Review of film: "THE DILEMMA"

2011, 02-08:

Review of film:  “THE DILEMMA”

   Your “Dilemma” will be whether to SEE the Dilemma as described in the movie…

First, let’s get to the “dilemma” that FILMGOERS have about this movie…  It was advertised as a “Comedy”, &, very simply, it ISN’T one in my opinion.  It’s a DRAMA with “potential” comedic “understones” that simply AREN’T really there in any “depth”… 

…  One reason I specially went to see it is, I like to view movies that were shot in CHICAGO (as this one was, just like the excellent “BACKDRAFT” which was also directed by the same Ron Howard)… 

…  In ‘”DILEMMA”, Ronnie Valentine (VINCE VAUGHN) runs a company working on trying to give autos a “muscle-car” rumble sound.  His best friend, Nick Brannen (KEVIN JAMES), runs the “tech” side of the firm, while Vince concentrates on the administrative side…

…  Vince in-effect tricks Kevin to do something to help them get an “in” for an interview with Dodge to try to sell them on their concept.  At Dodge’s HQ, in a meeting with Thomas Fern (played by CHELCIE ROSS), their outside consultant, Susan Warner (QUEEN LATIFAH), is enthusiastically on the side of Vince’s company, & they eventually start efforts on producing a “working” model of the idea proposed by outgoing Vince & shy Kevin…

…  Vince has been living with his chef girlfriend Beth (JENNIFER CONNELLY), & he’s considering proposing marriage to her.  As he plans that at a botanical garden headed by Herbert Trimpy (Ron’s brother CLINT HOWARD), he chances to see Kevin’s wife Geneva (WINONA RYDER), who’s “fooling around” with some tattooed guy (who we later learn is named Zip, played by CHANNING TATUM)…

…  The film thus begins telling the story of its internal “dilemma”--  namely, should Vince TELL Kevin what he’s seen, & “HOW” to do it?!…  There are various problems that arise in Vince’s efforts to deal with the matter, which involves confronting Winona & eventually Channing…

…  Does Vince finally decide it’s BEST to tell Kevin what he saw?...  Will Winona “ACCEPT” his meddling, or will she “FIGHT” his interference with some “secret” she herself knows about Vince?...  Will it do any good for Vince to try to gain “evidence” by going to Channing’s home?... 

…  Are there some “problems” that KEVIN has in his own life that Vince doesn’t know about?...  Will scenes of the Chicago Blackhawks have some “significance” to various story lines?...  Will JENNIFER react kindly or poorly to Vince’s suddenly-“STRANGE” behavior around Kevin & her?...  Will Kevin ever be be able to produce the product Dodge wants to buy?... 

…  Will things go well at an anniversary party for Jennifer’s folks (including her father Burt, played by Ron’s father RANCE HOWARD)?...  Overall, will Vince handle things “WELL” concerning what he knows, or will things “BLOW-UP” in his face?...

…  If you view the movie as a “drama” of problems people have in life (rather than as a “comedy”), the story comes across “DECENTLY” & as generally “believable” (tho not “smoothly” so)…  The cinematography is skillful, but the film is not especially well-written in my opinion.  I felt the acting is reasonably PASSABLE (considering the characters as set-up)…

…  Thus, since it’s just not very “special” or particularly effective, given all the above I’ve stated, I’m only able to rate it a possibly-generous 7 out of 10 stars…

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