The Dilemma

The Truth is Painful

[Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder, Channing Tatum, Queen Latifah]

image from ripitup.co.nz

RANT: I talked to Annette behind the glass at the Regal Theater box office today. She is usually doodling and drawing when I see her between giving out tickets. You can check out her skills at www.pockets1217.deviantart.com.

SYNOPSIS: Ronny and Nick are best friends and business partners. When Ronny discovers that Nick's wife is having an affair, he is put in a difficult position as to how and when to tell Nick.

The opening sequence sets the stage for the entire film. One of the ladies at the table asks Ronny (Vince Vaughn) if you truly can know someone completely, whether it is your best friend or your wife? Ronny responds with stories of men with families in separate cities, and a husband who take up archery and "accidentally" shoots his wife in the neck with an arrow, twice! Of course, he is right. We can never know another person wholly, no matter how confident we are. And this dry comedy sets out in the pursuit and upholding of the truth.

Director Ron Howard brings us a comedy from Allan Loeb. Ronny Valentine (Vaughn) and Nick Brannen (Kevin James) are business partners trying to capture a large automaker bid on their electric engine technology that would rumble in muscle cars. While Nick struggles with finishing the technology, Ronny discovers that Nick's wife Geneva (Winona Ryder) is having an affair with a young tattooed stud named Zip (Channing Tatum). Forced with keeping the truth from Nick in order to finish the project on time, Ronny takes it upon himself to confront Geneva to fix the problem. But everything that Ronny tries to fix the problem, the worse things get.

Although Vince and Kevin are funny, their manic styles tend to cancel each other out in The Dilemma. On the plus side, Queen Latifah as auto liaison Susan Warner gives a few giggles with her enthusiasm for the duo and their engine concept. And it's always great to see Clint Howard working. But on the more dramatic side, Jennifer Connelly and Winona Ryder keep the outing somber, further slanting the film to the serious.

The film is slated as "a comedy that pulls no punches". The Dilemma may have not pulled any punches, but because of it most of the comedy may have thrown in the towel. Even for most avid Vaughn or James fans, the truth is that you will be happier watching The Dilemma in the comfort of your living room.

Worth: Netflix

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