Cedar Rapids

Last night after work, I caught Cedar Rapids at the Varsity. It seemed like just a one off comedy winter release that was destined to suck, but the reviews had been pretty good and I like the cast involved so I gave it a shot! It was an extremely funny movie.

That, in and of itself, isn't enough to sell a movie because I laughed during Cop Out and that movie was a piece of shit. Detestable characters and no plot to speak of. Cedar Rapids really had remarkable character work which surprised me. Tim Lippe plays an incredibly naive but quite competent insurance salesman who, due to a tragedy, is sent to represent the firm he works for at a conference in Cedar Rapids.

There he meets Dean Ziegler (John C Reilly), an outsider who initially comes off as a perfect caricature of a salesman. He turns out to be incredibly well rounded and complex character who Tim Lippe comes to rely upon. Reilly is quickly becoming my favorite comic actor. I'm not sure he can support a movie on his own, but he is terrific as a number 2.

Aside from Ed Helms straddling the line of believability at times, it's a remarkably good movie with a nice heart. It's something Judd Apatow would have been proud to make.

Before I go, I should mention that last night night I caught the series finale of Friday Night Lights. It will go down in history as the greatest sports television show ever on television and nobody watched. I tried my hardest to get people to watch, but I was unsuccessful as it seems the Football aspect was too much to get over. Now I'm going to have to deal with people telling me how they 'discovered this wonderful show' in five years much like they did with Arrested Development. If these douche-bags would watch the damn show when it's on, maybe we get more than 1 full season and 4 half seasons?

A mission for all of you! Community is a great show and is currently at risk. WATCH THE FUCKING THING AND TURN OFF AMERICAN FUCKING IDOL!!!