Cedar Rapids (2011)

Ed Helms in a leading role doesn't exactly sound enticing, but he really pulled it off here. He was equal parts goofy, inept, sheltered and hilarious.

Naive insurance agent Tim Lippe (Helms) works for a small agency that has won the prestigious "Two Diamonds Award" three straight years at the annual conference in Cedar Rapids. When the company's top agent tragically dies (albeit in a hilarious manner), Lippe is thrust into the role and heads down for the event. This manboy has never been on a plane let alone to a "big" city like Cedar Rapids. He quickly finds he's out of his element. Lippe meets up with some other conventioneers including Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly). Big Z is the partier of the group. He's the one Lippe's boss told him to avoid. Of course, that wasn't going to happen. On this one trip, Lippe gets beat up, laid, extorted and completely inebriated. All in good fun.

Helms really owned the movie. It was his to control and he never let up. I was very impressed because the trailer for this movie and the reviews just didn't add up. Helms, Reilly and the rest of the supporting cast worked real well together. The biggest surprise was Anne Heche. I've hated her in everything she's done, but she was funny and a great counterbalance in this. I haven't seen much this year, but this could rank as one of the best comedies released. Most should enjoy this movie. Grade: B+

9 (2009)

This movie was visually stunning but, unfortunately, very light on substance. I know this movie was short, 79 minutes, but I kept waiting for the story to pick up.

This is a world where machines have already risen up and defeated the humans who created them. Before he died, the main scientist created 9 tiny robotic dolls that could not be corrupted by the government, as the other robots had before they destroyed humanity. The main robot is 9 (Elijah Wood). 9 soon meets up with the rest of the gang, specifically 5 (John C. Reilly), who was already battle scarred. The robots are running for their lives so they may be able to live in peace, since they may be the last living things on earth.

A very ambitious movie. An animated movie that doesn't set out to be funny. The bad part, it wasn't that great. The basis of my rating is in the animation itself. I was just amazed by it. The attention to detail was unbelievable. I definitely hope more movies are made like this, but hopefully, with a little more of a good story. It's very short, so if you have time, I'd watch this just for the graphics.