WORLD TOUR Day 12 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
BEFORE: Headed northeast out of Kansas, virtually of course, to the great state of Iowa, and the fine (??) city of Cedar Rapids, known as "The City of Five Seasons", or occasionally "The City of Broad Shoulders" (by me). Linking from "Splendor in the Grass", Warren Beatty was also in "Bulworth" with Don Cheadle, who was also in "Boogie Nights" with John C. Reilly.
THE PLOT: Tim Lippe has no idea what he's in for when he's sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to represent his company at an annual insurance convention, where he soon finds himself under the "guidance" of three convention veterans.
AFTER: I knew there'd be some thematic whiplash involved when I laid out my films geographically, but I can still at least try to draw a connection between last night's film and this one. Hmm, "Splendor in the Grass" had a character named Deanie, and this one has a character named Deanzie. Too esoteric? All right, I'll go with the sexual naivete of the lead characters in both films. Deanie got some bad parenting advice and her blossoming sexuality drove her a little nuts, and in "Cedar Rapids", Tim is forced to question everything in his life, including his relationship, after he gets a glimpse of life at a convention.
While this wasn't a giant laugh-inducing film (in fact, much of the humor comes from people telling bad jokes, proving how unfunny people can be when they're trying to be funny), it's more of a slice-of-life comedy, or a comedy about how much of a hole someone can dig for themselves, as Tim's situation gets worse and worse throughout the film, until it looks like he can never recover from his experiences, never again be the man he was at the start of the film. It's right in the sweet spot for Ed Helms, combining aspects of the characters he's played in "The Office" and "The Hangover".
But this is also a film about someone trying to remaining true to himself, and not letting the actions of others, or his own temporary vices, change the person he wants to be. Illegitium non carborundum, as I sometimes like to say - I know very little Latin, but I like knowing the phrase that means "Don't let the bastards wear you down." Because there are bastards in every industry, also burnouts and jaded people, and people to steer clear of as well. There are also temptations at conventions, even the ones populated by nerds, as I've seen first hand.
Speaking of work, I've fallen a little behind schedule, since I simply HAD to be at work today on time, for once, so I didn't start my Friday movie shortly after midnight - instead I went to bed early and saved this one for Friday evening. No worries, I'll watch a movie tomorrow in the afternoon and start another one late night Saturday, which will count as Sunday's film.
DISTANCE TRAVELED TODAY: 394 miles / 635 km (Independence, KS to Cedar Rapids, IA)
DISTANCE TRAVELED SO FAR: 2,208 miles / 3,560 km
Also starring Ed Helms (last seen in "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian"), Sigourney Weaver (last seen in "Paul"), Anne Heche (last seen in "The Other Guys"), Kurtwood Smith (last seen in "Dead Poets Society"), Stephen Root (last seen in "Black Rain"), Isiah Whitlock Jr., with cameos from Rob Corddry (last seen in "Hot Tub Time Machine"), Thomas Lennon (last seen in "Bad Teacher"), Mike O'Malley (last seen in "Meet Dave").
RATING: 6 out of 10 cream sherry shots
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