Cedar Rapids

As the title suggests, this movie from 2011 is set in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A questionable setting definitely as Cedar Rapids is obviously not a place where most films are set and as we know Iowa is a state more known for farming than anything. This is a comedy involving people in the insurance business. With this premise, Cedar Rapids shouldn't have worked. For me, it did though and ended up being a winner.

The movie has a typical set up for a comedy with the lead characters not connecting with each other which gives off an "enemy" feel to it. This is set at an insurance convention and deals with the issues in the workplace; so this is not a typical comedy and that makes it original. Even considering that this is a comedy and not a drama, the film has a good character study. It's shows how the leads characters played by John C. Reilly and Ed Helms build their relationship and grow together as people, and eventually become friends. This is also a film that is more realistic then most comedies and this adds to how good of a comedy this is.

As with most comedies, some of the substance of the movie here can be a little dumb and  it does get a little lost in some of the secondary ideas. Sigourney Weaver's  character really has no point and is used only for sex scenes. Some jokes also seem forced and miss the mark. These are typical flaws of this genre though so I won't hold it too much against the film.

Cedar Rapids is a surprisingly good film. It is a fun kind of uncanny film that worked against the grain. It is a film that sadly has been forgotten but it shouldn't be. I recommend it.

4/5