One of the most annoying plot devices in mainstream comedies is the contrived misunderstanding that could easily be resolved if the characters would just talk directly to each other for five minutes. The Dilemma is like one of those plot devices expanded to feature length: Its entire story is based around the idea that Ronny (Vince Vaughn) catches his best friend’s wife (Winona Ryder) in the act of cheating and can’t bring himself to tell the guy. The more he tries to resolve the problem, the more Ronny has to keep hidden, both from his best friend Nick (Kevin James) and from his own girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly). The movie contorts itself into all kinds of ridiculous and increasingly hard to believe positions just to continue justifying Ronny’s unwillingness to spill the truth.

The Details

The Dilemma

Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly

Directed by Ron Howard

Rated PG-13

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Taking a break from making Serious Movies, director Ron Howard brings a surprising amount of gravity to this silly premise, shifting from slapstick bits to heartfelt emotional moments without much in the way of transition. At certain points when Ronny is spinning some sort of implausible tale about his shady activities, Howard throws in little fake flashbacks that seem to come out of nowhere. Maybe the director has been angling for too many Oscars in the last decade, but he seems to have forgotten how to cut loose and have fun.

Vaughn and James certainly aren’t up for carrying a relationship drama, and the one star in the movie who might be (Connelly) is relegated to a thankless background role. Ryder gets one impressive scene in which her character coldly and convincingly threatens Ronny with a sociopathic plan to derail his friendship with Nick. That one exchange hints at the kind of dark comedy lurking around the edges of The Dilemma, but Howard and screenwriter Allan Loeb stay away from it. Instead, the movie heads toward easy jokes and easier sentiment, with a side of painful product placement. Maybe Howard does have a knack for mainstream comedy after all.