Review of The Dilemma (2011) by Manon M — 24 May 2012

Vince Vaughn and Kevin James in one film - it could have been masterly. But so much went wrong... Kevin James is practically invisible and the most funny lines go to the Channing Tatum, despite the fact that he is playing only a small role. That is when you realize, that can't be right... anyway, a small toast to Vince Vaugh who is pretty decent, but still I know he has a far more comedic talent than he shows us in this film. This film was just wrong for him. Ron Howard tried to hard to create a serious, meaningful story, that is by far totally uneven and not funny enough. I had a few good laughs, but as I said, most of them I had thanks to Channing Tatum and not because the film was constantly funny.

Actually a big letdown, because I thought Kevin James and Vince Vaugh would have a great chemistry... maybe they would have had it, if it had been an all-out comedy, soemthing without that way-over-the-top melodramatic moments. It was hard to connect to the characters and worst of all - some of them you didn't even really like. I best connected with Winona Ryder - despite the fact that she played the least sympathetic part, it by far the best perfomance in this film... But I totally disliked Kevin James (that I love in King of Queens by the way).

The Dilemma downshifts from slapstick to melodrama and back so abruptly that it is at times jarring. It barely qualifies as a comedy, that's a shame, because the cast in this film is totally awesome... Anyway, it is not a boring film and there are some hilarious laughs... The Dilemma not a waste of money, just a big letdown if you know what I mean.