CEDAR RAPIDS
US, 2011, 87 minutes. Colour.
Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Sigourney Weaver, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Stephen Root, Kurtwood Smith, Alia Shawkat, Rob Corddry.
Directed by Miguel Arteta.
A slight, comic and satirical look at Middle America.
Candide is a character who comes to mind as we watch the rather ingenuous and naive adventures of Tim Lippe, an insurance agent in a small town, who has never quite grown up even though we find him in a sexual relationship with his former teacher (Sigourney Weaver). When his boss asks him to go to Cedar Rapids after the former top agent of the firm dies, he not only has to represent the firm but is expected to bring back the top award made by the annual conference. It would seem he doesn’t have a chance.
Ed Helms (The Office, The Hangover films) as Tim is a rather gangly innocent who falls into the clutches of exploiters – who then turn out to be his friends when he discovers that his boss and the conference boss are dishonest. This means that he gets caught up in drinking, going to a club with a prostitute, having a relationship with a seductive colleague and pushed by the insurance agent that his boss had advised him against.
This might make the goings on seem worse than they are and how they are presented. Tim has to discover his naivety, the double-dealing of authorities and that his friends who lead him astray are good at heart.
There are some amusing episodes but it is the cast which move things along to a more sensible and happy ending. John C. Reilly is, as always, very good as the at-first-obnoxious agent. Anne Heche is the seductive colleague. Stephen Root is the fickle boss and Kurtwood Smith is the surface respectable president of the association. The baddies are unmasked and the goodies improve.
Not necessary, but it has its surprising moments.
1. American comedy? Sardonic? Satiric?
2. The title, the city in Iowa? The contrast with the small town in Wisconsin? The city and its importance? The town and its unimportance? The conference in Cedar Rapids?
3. The picture of the town, ordinary, homes and offices? The contrast with Cedar Rapids, the plane trip, the hotel, the conference, the interiors? The club? The realism – for heightened comedy effect?
4. The tone: real, surreal, raucous, the hypocrisy and exposure, decency?
5. The picture of Tim, his life in the small town, with his teacher? The affair? His naïve approach to it? His living alone? His search for the meaning of life? His right job? His story, his parents? The boss and his help? Roger, the advertising campaign, everybody feting him – and his death? The boss wanting Tim to go to Cedar Rapids? His hesitation? The support from Macy? Boosting his confidence? The plane, his first flight, security, the flight attendant? Meeting Bree at the airport, his naivety, not recognising why she was there? Going to the desk? Ron in his room? Dean Ziegler’s arrival? His being warned to be wary of him? Ziegler’s behaviour?
6. The world of insurance, the arrival of the delegates, the prize of the two diamonds? The boss and his speech?
7. Tim as a Candide-like character in contemporary America? His behaviour, not knowing the facts of life except for his relationship with his teacher? Proper? With the boss, the shower and the aftermath, the talk? His not drinking? Meeting Joan at the gym, the jokes, attracted to her? Joining her for the scavenger hunt? His serious approach to it? Sharing the room with Ron and Ziegler? The drinking and its effect? The pressure on him to win the prize of the two diamonds? Joan and the truth about the prize, about Gary? In the pool with Joan, his boss seeing him? The sexual relationship, his being upset? The prostitutes? Bree at the club? His behaviour, his language? His being rescued by Ziegler and Joan? The bribe? The supervisor and his wanting the money, the effect on Tim in giving him the money?
8. Ziegler and his type, his talk, crass, his own life, friendship with Ron, talking about temptations, his attitude towards sex, drinking? Helping Tim? His actually being kind and honourable for Tim?
9. Ron, the straight man, his talk about television, watching The Wire, helping out in the difficult situation?
10. Joan, her life, being away, the thrill of a relationship, her love for her husband, the phone calls? Her jokes with Tim? The drinking? Her children? The pool, the sexual relationship, being caught? The truth about Roger? Tim and his insulting Joan? His concern, her continuing to help?
11. Orin, discussions with Tim, the bribe, the speech, his religious background, saying grace, being exposed because of the bribes?
12. Bill, his pressure on Tim to get the prize, revealing that he was going to sell the company, the deal with the buyer? Tim and his being overwhelmed? Tim winning the prize? The decision to tell the truth, the deal not going through, the closing of the office?
13. Dean and Joan with Ron, the plan to keep Tim in business, the phone calls to all the customers, their decisions to stay with Tim?
14. His phoning Macy, her other relationships, her disillusioning him?
15. Tim, the return home? The setting up of the new company, with Ron, with Ziegler, with Joan? Their clients?
16. The portrait of a morally fragile man, naïve, easily breakable? Temptations and fall? Friends, disillusionment? Coming to understand himself better? Ultimate success?
