It honestly feels a little bit like predictable casting — ooh, these two have never starred together — but we suppose we’ll take it, because the pedigree around the film is relatively strong.
John C. Reilly has joined Ed Helms in “Cedar Rapids,” a road-trip comedy that’s being directed by Miguel Arteta (“Chuck & Buck,” the upcoming, “Youth In Revolt” with Michael Cera) and produced by Alexander Payne (we mean relatively strong because we have yet to see ‘Revolt’, but we’re hoping it’s decent; “Chuck & Buck” was excellent).
The plot centers on a wholesome and naive small-town Wisconsin man (Helms), who, when his role model dies, must represent his company at a regional insurance conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where his mind is blown by the big-town experience.
Apparently it was a script written on spec and the project is now officially at Fox Searchlight because of Payne’s deal there. THR who provides this news now calls the picture an ensemble comedy (much like ‘Revolt’), so perhaps we’ll see many more recognizable names and faces joining soon enough?
No word on when this one is filming yet, but presumably relatively soon.