As an insurance agent, Cedar Rapids peaked my interest when I heard it was playing at the Sundance Film Festival. Did I expect it to be brilliant? No. Was I hoping for some clever insurance jokes that I could use on my future clients? Not so much. Did I walk away with a few laughs and countless quotable lines? Yes. So, in the end, the film delivered everything that it promised, and much of that is a result of both Ed Helms and Anne Heche.
In a nutshell, Helms and Heche were meant to be together. Poised with stellar comedic timing and chemistry that could ignite even the dullest of scripts, the two make waves as polar opposite insurance agents. Embarking on a unique adventure to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, both are looking to get away from the rigors of the business. Helms' Tim Lippe is looking to bring home the prestigious "Two Diamond" award while Heche's Joan Ostrowski-Fox is merely looking for an escape from what she calls life. Together they form an inseparable pair, one that makes you wonder just what really goes on during all those so called 'business conventions.'
I can't deny my biased attitude towards Cedar Rapids; however, I fully believe that regardless of my profession, I would have enjoyed this film. Though not perfect, it does contain some witty lines, unforgettable characters and one downright hilarious karaoke track. Helms and Heche are charming, and set the stage for the loud, obnoxious and a bit too comfortable with himself Dean Ziegler (played flawlessly by John C. Reilly).
So whether you are an insurance agent or a housewife, Cedar Rapids shows us all what it is like to let loose. For that reason alone, this is a film worth checking out.
