So, it's Bank Holiday. What on earth should Mrs W and I do? Go for a walk? A bit of gardening? Or, heaven forfend, some DIY?
Nah, we were off to Cineworld, Nottingham to tick off a couple of movie also-rans.
Well, that's what I thought Cedar Rapids would be, but actually it was a splendidly offbeat comedy.
Its lead is Ed Helms who was one of the stars of one of The Hangover, one of my favourite comedies of the last few years.
And he gets great support from John C Reilly, who has hit a few bum notes since the fabulous Dewey Cox in 2007.
The storyline surrounds a 40-something supergeek insurance salesman Tim Lippe (Helms) whose only deviation from a blemish free life is a weekly sex bout with his school teacher (Sigourney Weaver).
Then, through an expected turn of events, he is sent to an insurance industry conference where he is expected to battle for its blue riband award.
It happens in Cedar Rapids which is a real place that was terribly badly affected by flooding a couple of years ago and in which insurance salesmen played a big role in its rejuvenation.
Anyway, while at the conference, he bumps into his polar opposite, the all-partying Dean Ziegler (O'Reilly), the flighty but well-meaning Anne Heche and Mr Normal (Isiah Whitlock junior).
After a little resistance, Lippe discovers that partying is more fun than the conference and his behaviour threatens to wreck his life.
Of course, it's an American comedy so all comes good and the ending is total schmaltz.
But, in between, there are many feelgood moments, largely inspired by Helms and O'Reilly.
Cedar Rapids is not the most original movie ever nor does it provoke laugh-out-loud moments but it does spark a few chortles, a decent amount of smiles and Mrs W and I were agreed on a perfectly satisfactory 6/10.
0 Comments