Cedar Rapids
Tim Lippe (Helms) was the guy people always thought would go places but then he just ... didn't. He's been living in über-sleepy Brown Valley, Wisconsin his whole life, still "pre-engaged" to his 7th grade teacher Macy Vanderhei (Weaver), while selling insurance to protect other people's dreams. But now, Tim's stalled life is about to get a kick-start because, for the first time in his 34 years, he's headed to a "major" metropolis - Cedar Rapids, Iowa - where he must try to save his company at a do-or-die insurance convention that, for him, will be entirely unconventional. From the minute he checks into his hotel with his ancient American Tourister and cummerbund money belt, it's clear Tim has no idea how the modern world really works. He is soon smitten with seductive Nebraskan insurance agent Joan Ostrowski-Fox (Heche) and awed by his experienced roommates, the straight-shooting Ronald Wilkes (Whitlock Jr.) and the suspicious Dean Zeigler (Reilly). Disheartened when he comes face-to-face with corporate corruption, Tim is ultimately lured beyond the lobby into an urban jungle he's only ever seen on DVD and when it seems his life - and chances to succeed - have gone completely topsy-turvy, he finds his own unjaded way to turn it all around.
The film earned $6.9M at the global box office.
1 win & 4 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Cedar Rapids (2011) showcases precise story structure, characteristic of Miguel Arteta's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 27 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Tim Lippe
Dean Ziegler
Joan Ostrowski-Fox
Ronald Wilkes
Orin Helgesson
Macy Vanderhei
Main Cast & Characters
Tim Lippe
Played by Ed Helms
A naive, sheltered insurance agent from small-town Wisconsin sent to his first convention in Cedar Rapids after his mentor's death.
Dean Ziegler
Played by John C. Reilly
A hard-partying, irreverent insurance salesman who becomes Tim's unlikely guide to the wild side of the convention.
Joan Ostrowski-Fox
Played by Anne Heche
A warm, married insurance agent who forms a genuine connection with Tim during the convention.
Ronald Wilkes
Played by Isiah Whitlock Jr.
An earnest, deeply religious insurance agent who tries to keep the group on a moral path.
Orin Helgesson
Played by Kurtwood Smith
The pompous, corrupt president of the insurance association who Tim idolizes before discovering his true nature.
Macy Vanderhei
Played by Sigourney Weaver
Tim's former seventh-grade teacher and current girlfriend who represents his sheltered past life.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Tim Lippe lives a simple, sheltered life in Brown Valley, Wisconsin, having sex with his former seventh-grade teacher Macy and working as a naive insurance agent who has never left his small town.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Bill Kunkle informs Tim that Roger Lemke died in an auto-erotic asphyxiation accident, destroying Tim's idealized image of his mentor and creating urgency for Tim to replace him at the annual insurance convention in Cedar Rapids.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Tim checks into the hotel in Cedar Rapids and enters the convention world for the first time, actively choosing to embrace this new experience despite his fears and inexperience., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Tim sleeps with Joan and experiences a genuine connection, feeling alive and liberated. False victory: he believes he can have both his new authentic life and win the Two Diamonds award while maintaining his image., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 64 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Tim drunkenly attempts to bribe Orin Helgesson by offering him drugs and prostitutes, gets caught on camera, and is thrown out of the convention in disgrace. His reputation, mission, and self-image all "die" in this public humiliation., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 69 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Tim learns that Orin has been arrested for soliciting prostitution. Tim realizes he can expose the corrupt system and decides to fight back by revealing the truth about the bribery scheme at the awards ceremony., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Cedar Rapids's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Cedar Rapids against these established plot points, we can identify how Miguel Arteta utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Cedar Rapids within the comedy genre.
Miguel Arteta's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Miguel Arteta films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Cedar Rapids represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Miguel Arteta filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Miguel Arteta analyses, see The Good Girl, Youth in Revolt and Like a Boss.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Tim Lippe lives a simple, sheltered life in Brown Valley, Wisconsin, having sex with his former seventh-grade teacher Macy and working as a naive insurance agent who has never left his small town.
Theme
Macy tells Tim, "You're going to have to leave the nest sometime," foreshadowing his need to grow up and experience the wider world beyond his sheltered existence.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Tim's innocent worldview, his relationship with Macy, his worship of the late Roger Lemke (the star insurance agent), and his workplace at Brownstar Insurance where boss Bill Kunkle prepares him for the convention.
Disruption
Bill Kunkle informs Tim that Roger Lemke died in an auto-erotic asphyxiation accident, destroying Tim's idealized image of his mentor and creating urgency for Tim to replace him at the annual insurance convention in Cedar Rapids.
Resistance
Bill gives Tim strict instructions to win the Two Diamonds award, avoid troublemaker Dean Ziegler, and room with Ronald Wilkes. Tim nervously prepares for his first plane flight and first hotel stay, representing his anxiety about leaving his comfort zone.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tim checks into the hotel in Cedar Rapids and enters the convention world for the first time, actively choosing to embrace this new experience despite his fears and inexperience.
Mirror World
Tim meets Dean Ziegler and Joan Ostrowski-Fox at the hotel bar. Joan becomes his thematic mirror—a free-spirited, experienced person who will teach him to loosen up and embrace authenticity over rigid propriety.
Premise
Tim experiences convention life: bonding with Dean, Ronald, and Joan; partying; skinny-dipping in the pool; doing drugs; and discovering a world beyond his sheltered existence while trying to maintain his professional mission.
Midpoint
Tim sleeps with Joan and experiences a genuine connection, feeling alive and liberated. False victory: he believes he can have both his new authentic life and win the Two Diamonds award while maintaining his image.
Opposition
Tim discovers Orin Helgesson (the Two Diamonds judge) expects a bribe. His worlds collide as he tries to maintain his innocent image while his new friends encourage authenticity. Tension builds as he must choose between corruption and integrity.
Collapse
Tim drunkenly attempts to bribe Orin Helgesson by offering him drugs and prostitutes, gets caught on camera, and is thrown out of the convention in disgrace. His reputation, mission, and self-image all "die" in this public humiliation.
Crisis
Tim retreats to his hotel room in shame, facing the consequences of his actions. He processes his failure and realizes he must choose between being who others expect him to be versus being his authentic self.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Tim learns that Orin has been arrested for soliciting prostitution. Tim realizes he can expose the corrupt system and decides to fight back by revealing the truth about the bribery scheme at the awards ceremony.
Synthesis
Tim crashes the awards ceremony and publicly exposes Orin's corruption, standing up for integrity. He reconciles with his friends, accepts his authentic self, and chooses genuine relationships over false propriety. Brownstar doesn't win the award but Tim wins something more valuable.
Transformation
Tim returns home transformed, breaking up with Macy (his teacher/mother figure), and beginning a genuine adult relationship with Joan. He has left the nest and become his own person, confident and authentic.