Review of The Dilemma (1919) by Nancy L — 06 Feb 2015

Directed by Ron Howard, his first comedy since the hugely underrated EdTV (1999), this one came from an idea by Howard's long-time producing partner Brian Grazer, who gave it to screenwriter Allan Loeb (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) and Rock of Ages (2012)), this comedy-drama tries to be something like Howard's own Parenthood (1989), but it doesn't know what it wants to be.

Set in Chicago, best friends Ronny (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Kevin James) work for a small car design firm, who are looking to design an eco-friendly car for Dodge. Ronny has been dating girlfriend Beth (Jennifer Connelly) for some time, while Nick is in a happy marriage to Geneva (Winona Ryder).

While out for dinner to propose to Beth, Ronny notices Geneva there, kissing another man called Zip (Channing Tatum). This puts Ronny in an awkward jam, as he doesn't know how to tell Nick that his wife is cheating on another man, so he confronts Geneva about it, who then threatens to claim tell Nick that Ronny hit on her, but Ronny won't give in.

It should have been a good film, especially with the pedigree of talent on board, but it swerves uncomfortably between cheesy comedy and dark domestic drama, which don't marry well at all, plus it would have worked better had it been made 20 years previously, but it just feels strange rather than funny.