- Awards
- 1 nomination total
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Ronny Valentine (Vince Vaughn) is Nick Brannen's (Kevin James) best friend from college and partner in their own auto design firm. Ronny has girlfriend Beth (Jennifer Connelly), and Nick is happily married to Geneva (Winona Ryder). Then Ronny spies Geneva making out with another man.
This is probably the worst Ron Howard movie I've ever seen. I don't know what the original intention was. Is cheating in a marriage really slapstick comedy material? Vince Vaughn and Kevin James could be a funny team in another movie. I just can't tell as I worry about what's going on in that marriage. If you're making fun of this material, you'd have to go dark. Neither guy is that great at dark comedies and Ron Howard is the last person to direct that.
This is probably the worst Ron Howard movie I've ever seen. I don't know what the original intention was. Is cheating in a marriage really slapstick comedy material? Vince Vaughn and Kevin James could be a funny team in another movie. I just can't tell as I worry about what's going on in that marriage. If you're making fun of this material, you'd have to go dark. Neither guy is that great at dark comedies and Ron Howard is the last person to direct that.
Really good actors and a premise that could have worked, but it failed in its execution. It was a bit like someone had assembled a lot of fresh, delicious ingredients in the kitchen, but didn't really know what flavors go with what, how much of each should be included, or what method to cook it and how long.
Too bad, because the actors gave it their all, and I felt like I could see where Ron Howard was TRYING to go with it... but unfortunately, it didn't quite make it there.
It wasn't terrible, but I can't say I laughed or ever really felt very invested in the characters. I commend the actors though -- a lot of times when the movie isn't going well, you can tell the actors have just decided to phone it in. I never felt like that with this cast, so kudos to them for that. Otherwise, it was basically forgettable.
Too bad, because the actors gave it their all, and I felt like I could see where Ron Howard was TRYING to go with it... but unfortunately, it didn't quite make it there.
It wasn't terrible, but I can't say I laughed or ever really felt very invested in the characters. I commend the actors though -- a lot of times when the movie isn't going well, you can tell the actors have just decided to phone it in. I never felt like that with this cast, so kudos to them for that. Otherwise, it was basically forgettable.
This movie is a shameful waste of $70,000,000. It's also an unusual waste of a talent like Jennifer Connely.
I can't even begin to tell you where this movie goes wrong, because it never seemed to go right. For the first 30 minutes of the movie, there is nothing remotely funny, original or entertaining. I gave it the benefit of the doubt, telling myself "ok, Ron Howard is just setting up the premise. It will get better." But it doesn't. Not a bit.
I had to repeatedly resist the urge to take out my phone and play Skee Ball. I should have, however, given in to the temptation to leave the theatre and demand my money back.
PS to the studio - don't market a film as a comedy if its not remotely funny. It does nothing to enhance your already tarnished reputation. (Clearly you are still pumping out left over crap from 2010)
I can't even begin to tell you where this movie goes wrong, because it never seemed to go right. For the first 30 minutes of the movie, there is nothing remotely funny, original or entertaining. I gave it the benefit of the doubt, telling myself "ok, Ron Howard is just setting up the premise. It will get better." But it doesn't. Not a bit.
I had to repeatedly resist the urge to take out my phone and play Skee Ball. I should have, however, given in to the temptation to leave the theatre and demand my money back.
PS to the studio - don't market a film as a comedy if its not remotely funny. It does nothing to enhance your already tarnished reputation. (Clearly you are still pumping out left over crap from 2010)
OK..OK..it wasn't 'awful', but it wasn't OH MY GAWD this is great either. The Dilemma is presented as a conflict that Vince Vaughn has when he sees his best friend and business partner's wife having an affair. Coulda , shoulda, woulda been a different movie had the following happened: 1. Winonna Ryder...isn't in the movie 2. Kevin James ..had more comedy rather than 'engineering' skills 3. Winonna and Kevin were 2 different actors that were the married couple in this flick AND, 4. they stuck to the storyline and stopped adding countless subplots that have no impact on the movie or the comedy or the acting.
This movie had a lot of potential, it just didn't produce it.
Vince and Jennifer were acceptable as an unwed committed couple but there wasn't enough balance between comedy and drama. I went into this expecting comedy and got more drama. It just wasn't Vince's best work, nor was it Ron's.
Even the 'other man' (who's name escapes me) was just too far fetched to wrap my mind around in character. He was over he top. If he was like the guy from the Richard Gere, Dianne Lane movie, then it'd be more believable.
I'm just not sure what I watched tonight. Vince had his typically banter and rhetoric in some scenes, but the movie was just too heavy and too over the top with story lines for me to count...or to recommend.
I also didn't like Queen L in this...she overacted her scenes and her character just didn't seem to fit in enough to make it worth her paycheck. This is the same actress that got the Oscar nod for Chicago...completely overacting in this movie.
I'd definitely wait for the DVD..as a rental. You will only want to see it once..
This movie had a lot of potential, it just didn't produce it.
Vince and Jennifer were acceptable as an unwed committed couple but there wasn't enough balance between comedy and drama. I went into this expecting comedy and got more drama. It just wasn't Vince's best work, nor was it Ron's.
Even the 'other man' (who's name escapes me) was just too far fetched to wrap my mind around in character. He was over he top. If he was like the guy from the Richard Gere, Dianne Lane movie, then it'd be more believable.
I'm just not sure what I watched tonight. Vince had his typically banter and rhetoric in some scenes, but the movie was just too heavy and too over the top with story lines for me to count...or to recommend.
I also didn't like Queen L in this...she overacted her scenes and her character just didn't seem to fit in enough to make it worth her paycheck. This is the same actress that got the Oscar nod for Chicago...completely overacting in this movie.
I'd definitely wait for the DVD..as a rental. You will only want to see it once..
This film is about a man finding out his best friend's wife is being unfaithful. Should he tell his best friend about it or not? The title and the poster suggest it's a comedy, and with Vince Vaughn and Kevin James, how can "The Dilemma" not be a comedy? Oh yes, in fact it is not a comedy! It's a semi-serious drama about this age old moral dilemma. I say semi-serious drama because neither the plot nor the actors give any emotional depth to make it a serious drama. This light-hearted execution undermines the credibility of the drama elements. For the comedy elements, it is overshadowed by the drama subplot. The film just drags on and on, without being serious or funny. "The Dilemma" is really so boring, don't let the comedic cast fool you.
Did you know
- TriviaThe trailer attracted a lot of criticism for the line spoken by Vince Vaughn's character "Electric cars are gay. I mean, not homosexual gay, but my-parents-are-chaperoning-the-dance gay.". Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) publicly asking they remove the line, support for the motion being seconded by Anderson Cooper. Universal released a new trailer without the line. Co-Producer and Director Ron Howard, however, refused to cut the line from the film itself as he felt it was tantamount to censorship.
- GoofsThe injuries Ronny sustained during his fight would have lasted weeks, but they disappear immediately afterward.
- Quotes
Ronny Valentine: Nick, great moments come from great opportunities. And that's what you've earned here today. It's what you've earned here today.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.63 (2011)
- SoundtracksBaby Don't You Do It
Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland (as Edward Holland,
Jr.)
Performed by The Band
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music
- How long is The Dilemma?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- El dilema
- Filming locations
- 2000 Naperville Wheaton Rd., Naperville, Illinois, USA(Dodge Automotive HQ)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $70,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $48,475,290
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $17,816,230
- Jan 16, 2011
- Gross worldwide
- $69,721,966
- Runtime
- 1h 51m(111 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content