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The Dilemma, Movie

The Dilemma 2011

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Vince Vaughn and Kevin James headline this comedy from director Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13). More

Buddies since college, confirmed bachelor Ronny (Vaughn) and happily married Nick (James) are partners in an auto design firm and about to land a dream project to launch their company. With Ronny’s girlfriend, Beth (Jennifer Connelly), and Nick’s wife, Geneva (Winona Ryder), by their sides, they’re on top of the world. So what's the dilemma? Ronny inadvertently sees Geneva out with another man (Channing Tatum) and begins an amateur investigation to find out what's going on. Find out he does and the news isn't good. With the clock ticking on the biggest presentation of their careers, Ronny's left to decide if he should tell his pal the truth about his cheating wife... Hide

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Flicks.co.nz Review

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Steve Newall Flicks Writer

The main dilemma I’ve got after seeing this is whether anyone on the face of the planet could really think that puffy ol' Vince Vaughn and Kevin "Mall Cop" James are the best male leads for a comedy that tries to walk a line between farce and grown up issues. Take a look at the female leads in the form of Jennifer Connelly and Winona Ryder – it’s just not a balanced thespian equation. Especially given Channing Tatum and Queen Latifah hardly add reinforcements to either side.
 
Like Vaughn’s recent relationship travesty Couples Retreat, there’s nothing wrong with the film’s premise but any potential is let down in the execution. Ron Howard hasn’t directed a comedy for over a decade and the rustiness shows as The Dilemma fails to achieve the emotional resonance he and Vaughn seem to be shooting for amidst a pronounced lack of laffs. Howard can’t handle the gags and Vaughn can’t carry the acting. We’re used to the sight of him phoning things in by now, but it comes as a bit of a surprise that even James acquits himself better in his supporting role than Vaughn does with the lead performance.
 
The Dilemma feels a bit like a politer version of a second rate frat pack comedy. It doesn’t alienate the girls, still tries to inject a little dose of macho cool, and never gets too risqué. In other words, it’s safe and boring.

The People's Reviews

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2 ratings and 3 reviews

All reviews (3)

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  • cougan

    interblagnag is soooo correct

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Oh Ron..

InterblagNag Nobody (?)

This is a Ron Howard film? With stereotypical characters and cheap jokes? Man alive, has he slid down the rail. And is that a mother-fluffing Maroon 5 soundtrack. That's so gay. Not homo gay. More like "I've totally sold out, lost all creativity and grown man-boobs" gay.
What is Jennifer Connelly doing in this? I thought she had class. Seems as if Ron Howard pulled this film out of his ars*. Then again, I could be wrong. This film could be incredible. What a dilemma.

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What a let down

Glenn Nobody (?)

Like InterblagNag, I went to see this because it had Ron Howard's name next to "Directed By". Sure, Vince Vaughan, Jennifer Connolly, Kevin James and Winona Ryder don't hurt, but Ron Howard AND a good crew of actors... should be cool.

But no. You've seen Vince Vaughan play this character in the exact same way a million times by now. Jennifer Connolly is really only there to stand in the background and look pretty.

Most of the situations are tired as well. From the embarrassing speech given at a loved one's event, to the quiet achiever rises to the occasion to the black woman is "hilarious" because she says inappropriate things... you've seen everything this movie has to offer, and you've seen it done better.

So, since they also forgot to make it funny, The Dilemma's 111 minute running time feels veeery long.

I hope Ron got paid a whole lot of money for this, because the dent in his reputation could be large.

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Ho Hum

Sam Nobody (?)

Really wasn't that funny...if it was trying to be a comedy...and not very believable if it was trying to be a drama. I'm sorry, but Vince Vaughn needs to find another character...seriously, that fast talking everyman that he plays in all his movies is fast becoming a pain to watch. I was bored after 60min...so at nearly 2 hours, it was a hard watch.

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Press Reviews

Christchurch Press (James Croot)

A tepid, tedious brom-com. Full review.

Hollywood Reporter

The Dilemma is so tone deaf to its themes that it thinks it's a light and slightly rude Vince Vaughn movie. It's not. Full review.

TVNZ (Darren Bevan)

The main quartet are realistic and genuinely well acted to be believable and Ron Howard brings an assured eye to the direction yet The Dilemma lacks that certain kind of pizzazz and oomph which it needs to keep it moving along as it shifts into the more straight acting and out of the humourous territory. Full review.

Variety (USA)

Not a particularly funny movie. Indeed, the true dilemma of this misguided seriocomedy lies in the filmmakers' confusion as to whether they're making a side-splitting bromance (nope) or an unsparing, warts-and-all look at screwed-up relationships (sort of). Full review.