The Dilemma (2011) – Review

2 Stars

Ron Howard’s first foray into the ‘comedy’ genera since 1989’s ‘Parenthood’ is a mixed bag. Tonal shifts from slapstick to black comedy keep this often funny and very watch-able film from being a home-run. Vince Vaughn is appealing in a relaxed performance as the man burdened with the knowledge of his best friend’s wife’s ongoing affair. What’s a guy to do? Does he tell his buddy (Kevin James, in a fairly thankless role) and destroy his life during the biggest moment of their professional careers?

The screenplay is on the level of a sitcom at times and the film veers into heavy waters in a couple of overly melodramatic scenes that belong in a different film. It’s hard to say what attracted these stars and director to the material. Fortunately Howard is skilled enough to generate an awful lot of chemistry between all four of his leads. This is an intriguing film that seems as if it were green-light right at the stage when it needed another draft. However I will say this is a Vince Vaughn film for people tired of ‘Vince Vaughn’ films.

Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Channing Tatum