To promote their new comedy Cedar Rapids, the film’s stars (Ed Helms, Anne Heche, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Alia Shawkat) and their director, Miguel Arteta (Chuck & Buck, Youth in Revolt), sat down to share their thoughts on comedy and their co-star John C. Reilly.
Cedar Rapids centers on earnest everyman, Ted Lippe, an insurance salesman who is on a big adventure—heading to an insurance convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa! While there, he makes a new batch of friends who bring excitement and trouble in equal doses. (See the trailer here.)
Below is a compilation of the highlights of this round table. I apologize in advance for the vid’s shakiness. (I am many things, but a cinematographer is not one.)
Afterward, I got a chance to speak with some of the Cedar Rapids gang, and discovered Shawkat’s thoughts on the Arrested Development movie, learned Ed Helms is a fan of Jack Lemmon’s performance in Glengarry Glen Ross, and got some insight into Miguel Arteta‘s sense of humor.
Alia Shawkat on Cedar Rapids, and playing Bree:
“When I was doing Whip It in Michigan, Miguel was shooting Youth in Revolt, so I met him through Michael [Cera] and we just became really good friends and got along so well. And that was like a year before they started getting Cedar Rapids going. He called me up one day and was like, (affecting an accent) ‘Alia! I want you to play a prostitute!’ And I was like, ‘Sounds great, Miguel. I’m in.’ And so it kind of just went from there. And I decided I wanted to go blonde a week before shooting. They were all a little nervous about that…since I’m not a like a known person the studio was like, ‘What the fuck does she think she’s doing!?’ But [ultimately] they liked it, and it worked…I’ve been lucky that the last couple roles have been very different characters, and I hope that they keep going that way. And I got to say a lot of dirty, fun things in this movie so it was really fun.”
Miguel Arteta on the underrated Youth in Revolt:
“I love that movie. I wanted to make a love poem to Michael [Cera]; I adore him, and I was heartbroken that not more people saw it.”
Miguel Arteta on comedy:
“Well I am a complete movie geek of the Golden Era of Hollywood, I sadly have spent more time than I care to admit watching old movies…But also I recognize something classic in Ed [Helms], and that’s part of the reason I got attracted to this. Those Billy Wilder comedies, the Jack Lemmon comedies—Jack Lemmons don’t come [along] very often. Someone who can do a wholesome character that looks like an everyday man, but also has a great comic edge, it’s very rare…When I saw The Hangover, when I saw Ed’s character, I thought he gave it such a thoughtful arc in a pretty broad comedy…I saw that movie and I told my girlfriend, ‘I wish I could do the first Ed Helms sort-of indie movie,’ and then three months later it fell in my lap. I don’t know how that happened. I’m definitely attracted to the idea of making more wholesome comedies….I like Howard Hawks’ definition of a great movie, which is three great scenes and no bad ones. It’s harder than you think [to accomplish], but I really do think that’s true. Three memorable scenes and none that suck makes a classic.”
Cedar Rapids opens limited February 11, 2011 before going wide Feb. 18th.
Are you excited for Cedar Rapids? What was your favorite round table moment?