Cedar Rapids
A sheltered Wisconsin insurance agent discovers friendship, corruption, and unexpected independence at a chaotic industry convention in Cedar Rapids.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- awkward
- irreverent
- lazy sunday
- comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an amiable, sharply observed comedy elevated by Ed Helms and a strong ensemble cast.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Tim Lippe leaves sleepy Brown Valley for his first major convention in Cedar Rapids and repeatedly misreads modern urban and professional life.
Tim's insurance convention experience reveals corruption and self-serving conduct behind the industry's polished surface.
At 34, Tim remains pre-engaged to his seventh-grade teacher and has little experience with romance, nightlife, or independent decision-making.
Tim's encounters with Joan, Ronald, and the suspicious Dean create the film's central chemistry and social friction.
Films like Cedar Rapids, and why
Welcome to the Dollhouse
naive outsider comedy, regional American setting, and a warm journey toward self-discovery
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
awkward social misfit protagonist, deadpan humor, and discomfort that gradually becomes personal growth
Office Space
ensemble workplace satire, eccentric adult characters, and irreverent but ultimately humane comedy
The Hangover
fish out of water structure, friendship, and comic exposure to unfamiliar social worlds
Movie Details
- Director
- Miguel Arteta
- Release Date
- 2011-02-11
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (472)
Cast
- Ed Helms
- John C. Reilly
- Anne Heche
- Isiah Whitlock Jr.
- Stephen Root
- Kurtwood Smith
- Alia Shawkat
- Thomas Lennon
- Rob Corddry
- Mike O'Malley
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Cedar Rapids about?
- A sheltered Wisconsin insurance agent discovers friendship, corruption, and unexpected independence at a chaotic industry convention in Cedar Rapids.
- What is Cedar Rapids like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cedar Rapids as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Cedar Rapids violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Cedar Rapids.
- What did critics think of Cedar Rapids?
- Critics broadly found the film an amiable, sharply observed comedy elevated by Ed Helms and a strong ensemble cast.
- Which films are like Cedar Rapids?
- Films with a similar feel include Welcome to the Dollhouse, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Office Space, and The Hangover.
- How long is Cedar Rapids?
- Cedar Rapids runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cedar Rapids?
- In United States, Cedar Rapids is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
