Entertainment
Raunchy R-Rated Comedy On Max Is A Great Weekend Full Of Bad Decisions
By Robert Scucci
| Updated
I never thought there’d be a time in my life when I’d actually root for an insurance agent, but Cedar Rapids actually almost had me for a second. I’ll admit that I initially wrote this movie off as another party movie that doesn’t have much of a plot, but since I was bored and streaming is the opiate of the masses, I gave it a chance and was actually surprised that it had a lot more substance than its theatrical trailer would lead you to believe. I guess by now I should know better than to make assumptions about a movie based on its promotional material, but first impressions are still important, even though they’re sometimes misleading.
How Exciting Can An Insurance Conference Actually Be?
Cedar Rapids is a coming-of-age story even though its primary protagonist, Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), is a full-grown adult.
Tim’s naivety and devotion to his job working as an agent for Brownstar Insurance is immediately apparent when his co-worker, Roger (Thomas Lennon), dies under sexually depraved circumstances just ahead of his expected appearance at the upcoming regional ASMI conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Tim denies the circumstances of Roger’s deviant departure despite the evidence because he thinks so highly of him.
With Roger out of the picture, Tim is approached by his boss, Bill (Stephen Root), to attend the conference in order to win the Two Diamonds Award that Roger has successfully won during the previous three years he had attended.
Overwhelmed with the prospect of representing his company at such a high level, Tim confides in his lover, his former middle school teacher with whom he’s ready to give a promise ring, Mrs. Vanderhei (Sigourney Weaver).
Tim’s Innocence Is The Primary Vehicle For Humor
I said earlier that Cedar Rapids makes you see the human side of insurance, and I truly mean that. Tim is not only so naive that he thinks driving a rental Chevy makes him a bigshot, but he also sincerely believes that insurance agents are the front-line heroes that get people’s lives back on track after a catastrophe has the potential to financially ruin them. In Tim’s mind, Roger, who he’s filling in for at the conference, was a model employee who celebrates Christian values – one of the key components in qualifying for the Two Diamond award and winning the good graces of ASMI president, Orin Helgessn (Kurtwood Smith).
In fact, Tim’s so naive in Cedar Rapids’ first act that he plans to follow Bill’s advice to avoid Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly), an alleged client poacher, based on his word alone.
Cream Sherry!
When Tim finally decides to let his guard down, Cedar Rapids shows you just how fun a regional conference can be after hours. Not knowing how to drink with purpose (or at all), Tim impulsively orders cream sherry at the bar when pressed by Dean, who embraces his innocence and orders a round of the same, and his subsequent intoxication sets off a chain of events that will shake the very foundation of his being as he learns how corruption is at the center of the conference, and how his hero Roger wasn’t the great guy he thought he was.
Caught between his morals and the competitive nature of capitalism, Tim also forms a romantic bond with an insurance agent named Joan (Anne Heche) to the disapproval of his roommate, Ronald (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), who’s trying to stay on the straight and narrow during such a crucial, career defining conference.
Streaming Cedar Rapids For The Name Of Fun
Cedar Rapids is pretty much your by-the-numbers fish out of water story, but is worth a watch because of its strong characters. If casted differently, it probably wouldn’t be an effective comedy because of how standard it truly is. Thanks to the over-the-top lead performances from John C. Reilly and Ed Helms, you might actually want to go to a work function by the time you finish watching this one, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
As of this writing, you can stream Cedar Rapids on Max.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
