Review: ‘Cedar Rapids’ (B)

Cedar Rapids was just plain old fun and I highly recommend this very simply, straight forward, and quirky comedy. 

The screenplay, by first timer Phil Johnston, was featured on the 2009 installment of the ‘Hollywood Blacklist’ honoring the best unproduced screenplays circulating Hollywood, and finally brought to the big screen by underrated director Miguel Arteta (Chuck & Buck, The Good Girl, and Youth in Revolt).  Together, along with a terrific cast, they have put together a film that doesn’t disappoint.

The Positive

This ensemble comedy is pretty remarkable and very balanced.  Everyone it perfectly cast, incredibly talented, and each individual compliments the rest of their team perfectly.  There isn’t a week leak among them.

Ed Helms (The Office) proves, once again, that he is the king of playing the nice guy.  Anne Heche, whose Television work I adore (Men in Trees and Hung) is as delightful as always.  Sigourney Weaver brings this amazing edge to the movie… and at times reason and much needed stability.  And John C. Reilly?  Well… John does what he does best: steal scenes. 

If you are a fan of John C. Reilly’s body of work, his performance in Cedar Rapids is a must see because he’s giving everything he’s got. In this movie John channels the comic brilliance we’ve seen in Talladega Nights and Dewy Cox, and harnesses it with the kind of sincerity we’ve seen in Magnolia and Boogie Nights.

And the same accolades goes to the stacked supporting cast as well:  Stephen Root (News Radio and Office Space), Kurtwood Smith (That 70s Show), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development), Rob Corddry (The Daily Show and Hot Tube Time Machine), Mike O’Malley (Yes, Dear and Glee), Thomas Patrick Lennon (The State and Reno 911!), and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (The Wire).

Isiah in particular has a couple scene stealing moments as a mild mannered insurance agent who is an enthusiast of the HBO Series ‘The Wire’… a show he, in real life, starred in… and in one scene in particular he channels his character from ‘The Wire’ who is neither mild, nor mannered, culminating into a hysterically funny moment.

The Negative

There is a reason why Cedar Rapids was on the 2009 Hollywood Blacklist.  It’s great!  And this is the kind of comedy you would normally find vying for awards… however… it will go unnoticed, not due to the faults of anyone involved.  As a whole, the writing, direction, and performances were spot on.  However, sadly to say, the problem is that no one associated with this film is high profile enough to attract the kind of attention needed for a successful awards run. 

And I hate to say it, but if Ryan Gosling and Kate Winslet had starred in this movie, rather than Helms and Heche, I think Cedar Rapids would end up being the toast of the town come awards season.  And as a result, I actually think John C. Reilly would have ended up with an Oscar Nomination.

And that said, I’m not sure if Gosling and Winslet would have done a better job than Helms and Heche… and that is what makes EGOTing so frustrating.