Review: The Dilemma
When previews for The Dilemma aired on TV, I had little interest in seeing what appeared to be the latest bromantic comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Kevin James. I typically enjoy this style of comedy, and James's performance alongside Will Smith in Hitch is one of my favorites in the genre. However, I was apprehensive about whether there would be enough chemistry between James and Vaughn to believe an almost brotherly bond. I decided to take a chance after I learned that producer and director Ron Howard (Parenthood, The DaVinci Code) was heading this project. With his directorial talent, I expected The Dilemma to be well developed and more complex than the standard bromance.
The Dilemma starts off harmlessly enough as we meet confirmed bachelor Ronny (Vaughn) and happily married Nick (James). Buddies since college, they're partners in an auto design firm and are set on taking their company to the top with an innovative project to produce muscle-car sounds in environmentally friendly electric cars. Supporting them in their endeavors -- and in past trouble of Ronny's gambling addiction -- are Ronny's girlfriend, Beth (Jennifer Connelly), and Nick's wife, Geneva (Winona Ryder).
Life only seems to be getting rosier for the two couples as Ronny prepares to propose to Beth and finally settle down. However, Ronny's world is turned upside down when he inadvertently sees his best friend's wife making out with the young and tattooed Zip (Channing Tatum). He makes it his personal crusade to find out what's going on so he can confront Geneva, as he struggles with how to tell Nick. However, he realizes the news could devastate Nick and jeopardize their dream project that's due in less than three days. The more he digs, though, the more he learns that Nick also has a secret of his own. Faced with the dilemma of confronting Nick and Geneva, Ronny places his own relationship with Beth at risk as he keeps his mission a secret to her as well. False assumptions are made as Ronny's world spirals out of control.
Ronny's character development is well done, especially the complexity of his inner struggles. Unfortunately, Jennifer Connelly is a bit underutilized in this film as the girlfriend who suspects her boyfriend has fallen back into old habits. Ryder really hits the mark of a woman who is able to keep her marital troubles under wraps. As much as I disliked her character, I was quite impressed with her performance. Vaughn's ability to expatiate fits right in with his character, but it's too much to tolerate in a film of this length. The talented Queen Latifah plays a small yet unflattering role as one of an auto company's power executive. With her range and talent, she is grossly misused in this movie.
Just as Ronny accuses Geneva of being a "Sybil" with multiple personalities, The Dilemma suffers from an identity crisis. The trailers convey the bromance, but far from it. I find it very difficult to categorize this film as a comedy. Yes, there are slapstick moments and standard gags ... such as Ronny's severe allergic reaction to Passiflora incarnata, which was too reminiscent of Hitch's shellfish reaction.
The dark tone and dramatic moments overshadowed any of the humorous moments. I found myself literally cringing at vitriolic scenes that could have easily been remedied by the main characters simply taking a moment to communicate. I've not felt such a reaction since seeing In the Company of Men in 1997, and even last year's Brief Interviews with Hideous Men didn't make me feel as uncomfortable as The Dilemma. Films of this nature expose the darkest moments of relationships between men and women. Suffice to say, The Dilemma is not appropriate for a date night movie. Nor is it appropriate for anyone under 18 -- there's quite a bit of nudity and sexual content.
My expectations were set low for The Dilemma, and yet this film still failed to entertain. Worse yet, the final scene could be taken as an insult to audiences as a formulaic bromantic comedy card is played in the final moments. My advice? Stay home and watch Hitch on Netflix.