Normal Embarrassing People

Insurance Convention offers indie quirkiness in top form
by
Morgan P Salvo
 

Miguel Arteta (Chuck and Buck, Youth in Revolt) deserves credit for being the only director to yank out a decent performance from Jennifer Aniston in the last decade with The Good Girl. With Cedar Rapids he provides a straightforward story about a fictional Wisconsin town, Brown Valley, and the heroic turn of its dweeby hesitant insurance man, Tim Lippe (Ed Helms). Lippe is sent to Cedar Rapids to represent his company at an insurance convention, and soon finds himself mixed up with three convention veterans and the life lessons that ensue

Simplistic to the hilt with real-life scenarios, Rapids is not a wacky comedy, but a heartfelt look at doing the right thing no matter how messed up things get. Like in Fargo, amidst the small time wheeling and dealing we find small town corruption (without a wood chipper).

Arteta’s unassuming style gives the actors room to amuse, keeping the mood as intimate. The hilarity comes out of normalcy thanks to spot-on performances and a screenplay that is something truly original. Rapids is often not funny, just realistically cringe inducing. The truthfulness renders a character study of real people who are not embarrassed of themselves, making us want to jump in the screen and explain to them how freaking ridiculous they are.

This top notch cast really delivers the goods. Helms (The Office/Daily Show), in a terrific performance, eschews comedy “play-acting” and really captures the spirit of a gullible dope. An overweight John C. Reilly as Dean Ziegler is a big lovable lug, all foul mouth and heart. Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Ronald Wilkes “Ronimo”, maintains an even keel ironically doing impersonations from The Wire (on which he was Senator Clay Davis who said “sheee-it” a lot.) Anne Heche is Joan, the tough yet vulnerable saleswoman and Alia Shawkat is Bree the hooker, with heart of gold and drug connections. Stephen Root (Office Space) is the conniving boss along with head honcho insurance guru Kurtwood Smith (Robocop’s super villain/ That 70’s Show). Sigourney Weaver, showing no signs of plastic surgery, is Lippe’s MILF ex-grade school teacher/love interest.

From dork to "Insurance Man, Super-Hero" Helms’ metamorphosis contains some subtle similarities to Sharlto Copely’s in District 9 (though not as impressive). Lippe’s innocence is refreshing to all he encounters and somewhat contagious. This flick offers a smidgen of introspection that allows us all to take a look at ourselves to find the good---might not be much but it’s there. Exposing a slice of heartland America, Rapids is scathing commentary in its own right. At one point the boss informs him to go out and make the insurance team proud, “I always thought you would go places and then somehow you just didn’t.” Well this flick might not go far but it certainly covers a lot emotional high points in its short running time.

Cedar Rapids  Starring Ed Helms, John C Reilly, Anne Heche, Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Directed by Miguel Arteta
Rated R
3 Stars