"Cedar Rapids" Movie Trailer Review

"Cedar Rapids"

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Nick Hanover

With the massive success of "The Hangover" still apparently fresh in Hollywood's mind, it would seem that execs are convinced that everyone in that film can and should take the lead in as many comedies as possible. Zach Galifanakis is in more or less every comedy that's come out in the last year, Bradley Cooper had "The A-Team" (and of course the inexplicable pile of crap that was "All About Steve") and now here's Ed Helms with "Cedar Rapids."

Like his role in "The Hangover," Helms is in full-on spineless mode, this time around playing an insurance salesman who has apparently never been outside of his zip code. The trailer for "Cedar Rapids" offers quite a bit of promise though, from its use of the always excellent Stephen Root (of "Office Space" fame) as Helms' mentor/boss to smaller roles by the likes of Rob Cordry and "Arrested Development's" Alia Shawkat.

Focusing on Helms' first trip outside of his hometown to the titular Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where an important insurance conference is going on, the key set-up appears to be Helms' pairing with uber-salesman and all around wild and crazy dude John C. Reilly. Through Reilly, the naive Helms is exposed to hardcore drinking, sexual shenanigans and all-around debauchery. The premise is basically done to death, sure, but with a cast this dynamic it's sure to be more fun than usual. And of course there's the behind the camera credits, specifically Alexander Payne ("Sideways," "Election") as producer and Miguel Arteta ("Chuck and Buck," "Youth in Revolt") directing. Less exciting is the appearance of Anne Heche as Helms' apparent Mrs. Robinson surrogate, but that's a minor obstacle in the grand scheme of things.

For the moment, Helms is likable enough, even though he's continuously stuck in the same part he's been famous for since "The Office" and "The Hangover," and if "Cedar Rapids" can make him a bankable star, more power to him.

View the trailer below. What are your thoughts?