Review: Cedar Rapids

The comedic trio led by John C. Reilly gives the dead months of winter a really nice present of a movie. (Fox Searchlight/aceshowbiz.com)

I think it’s quite safe to say that I haven’t been too interested at all in the movie selection the past few months, and there’s really no surprise in stating that. January, February and March have been the dumping grounds for studios worst movies over the past decade plus, and that trend was certainly continuing in 2011. That’s why it’s so unexpected to not just get a good flick, but a small, independent one at that going up against the big studio crap. Cedar Rapids is not an unbelievably amazing movie that will be on end of the year top 10 lists. But, that’s not what it’s going for, at least I don’t think. It’s an hour and a half of pure character-driven enjoyment, with great comedic performances from both leading and supporting characters.

This movie was perfect in the way it approached itself, if that makes any sense. This is a comedy, end of story. It doesn’t try to be so over-the-top with humor that it loses its appeal or value. But at the same time, it knows its role, and doesn’t make too much of an attempt to hammer home the serious moments. The feel of it is, well, quite perfect. And from there, the quartet of characters take over for quite the unique and funny small-town experience.

With some great surprises in the supporting roles (Alia Shawkat from Arrested Development, Rob Corddry, etc) and just simply awesome performances from Isiah Whitlock, Jr. as ‘Ronimal” and Ed Helms as our main character, it’s quite a hilarious grab-bag of actors put together for one project. But there is little doubt who the king is in this film – who steals every scene, whose one-liners had me laughing the entire time. You guessed it – John C. Reilly. The man is simply comedic gold. He’s a damn good actor, comedy or drama, but I think after Step Brothers a few years back, he’s embraced his inner genius comedian. And there is nobody funnier than his Dean Ziegler in Cedar Rapids.

CEDAR RAPIDS: (out of 4)

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