The Dilemma

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The Dilemma

PG-13

2011

1h 51m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

24%

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156 Reviews

29%

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50,000+ Ratings

Longtime friends Ronny (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Kevin James) are partners in an auto-design firm. They are hard at work on a presentation for a dream project that would really launch their company. Then Ronny spots Nick's wife out with another man, and in the process of investigating the possible affair, he learns that Nick has a few secrets of his own. As the presentation nears, Ronny agonizes over what might happen if the truth gets out.

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Critics Consensus

It boasts a likable cast and an interesting premise, but The Dilemma can't decide what to do with them; the result is an uneven blend of cheesy slapstick and surprisingly dark comedy.

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Philip French

Guardian

Rather less fun than a badly executed coronary bypass.

Jan 26, 2011

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David Denby

The New Yorker

Who ever thought that Ron Howard could make a cult film? This movie is a mess, but it's an intelligent and affecting mess.

Jan 24, 2011

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

But it's just way too uneven, too masochistically sexist and startlingly homophobic for the good to outweigh the bad. It is a movie I can appreciate for the attempt but roast over the coals thanks to its execution.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 21, 2011

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Love him or hate him, director Ron Howard at least makes movies that can generally be described as classy projects. So what on earth possessed him to get attached to this misguided frat-boy comedy?

Rated: 1.5/4

Sep 13, 2025

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Howard’s refusal to delete even one pointless subplot […] taxes the viewer after the third or fourth change in tone. When it’s all over, the viewer has trouble making sense of why some scenes were included or how the dilemma was resolved.

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 3, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Masks much of its laugh-out-loud funniness with dark humor, subtle jests, and highly serious drama.

Rated: 5/10

Nov 30, 2020

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Logan G.

The Dilemma has a great cast and some funny moments, but it’s uneven blend of comedy and drama makes it hard to swallow.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/16/25

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David G

I made this account just to say this isn't the best movie I've ever seen but its pretty good. All these people on here writing an in-depth analysis on this silly comedy are nuts. If you find yourself constantly offended by things other people say, then find something else. If you're a normal human being looking for a fun entertaining movie it's not bad, give it a watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/25/25

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Martin B

How did Ron Howard get involved with this clunky mess? Decent cast, tried a bunch of formula gimmicks, Vince Vaughn the glue to hold it all together and almost none of it worked.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/23/25

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Blu B

Well it's the better one of the Kevin James 2011 movies. But that's not saying much. The acting is alright. It starts out kind of promising but he longer it goes the more the dialouge just weighs and the humor is somwhere between flat and terribly unfunny. It's dumb, not well set up, repetitive, and just falls flat. James isn't bad and probably the best thing acting wise. Vaughn starts out good but the longer it goes the more unfunny, unlikeable, and dumb his character gets. Connelly I honestly wonder what the point of having her here as I struggle to find a reason for her to be here. And what a waste for Ryder. If the humor was better and a better script this may work because I struggle to see how you can't make something passable with this all star cast but here we are. Everything else is subpar. The direction is pretty basic despite lots of production value. The fact this is Ron Howard is just mind boggling also. There are some dumb and unfunny scenes that just fall flat like the home invasion and the intervention climax. Than it can't decide how to take all it's subplots and make them work together. Vaughn with Connelly, the Dodge car project, and the actual "Dilemma" all feels seperate and never works well together. The actual affair too feels low stakes and bounces around between everyone and we go in circles. Maybe it would be worth it if it were actually funny but it's not. It coud've been a lot worse but as it is, it's a unfunny romcom that should be skipped. What a waste of talent in front and behind the camera.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

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br r

It took 20 minutes before we knew what this was about and that was the high point. Proof that a good cast and director can't make up for a terrible script.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Monic Kenya M

The story is slow. Totally would not call this a comedy. Good actors but bad script very boring

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/25

Full Review

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Ron Howard

Director

Vince Vaughn

Ronny Valentine

Kevin James

Nick Brannon

Jennifer Connelly

Beth

Winona Ryder

Geneva

Channing Tatum

Zip

The Dilemma: Official Clip - One Shot

2:43

The Dilemma: Official Clip - Peeping Tom

2:31

The Dilemma: Official Clip - Honesty

3:19

The Dilemma: Official Clip - Helping the Little Porkers

2:31

The Dilemma: Official Clip - Are You Crying?

2:09

The Dilemma: Official Clip - Kill Your Bookie

2:26

The Dilemma: Official Clip - Come Inside

3:05

The Dilemma: Official Clip - Serious Lady Wood

1:50

The Dilemma: Official Clip - I Know Where You Live

2:46

The Dilemma: Official Clip - Stay Out of My Marriage

3:42

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Synopsis

Longtime friends Ronny (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Kevin James) are partners in an auto-design firm. They are hard at work on a presentation for a dream project that would really launch their company. Then Ronny spots Nick's wife out with another man, and in the process of investigating the possible affair, he learns that Nick has a few secrets of his own. As the presentation nears, Ronny agonizes over what might happen if the truth gets out.

Director: Ron Howard
Producer: Brian Grazer, Vince Vaughn, Ron Howard
Screenwriter: Allan Loeb
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Wild West Picture Show, Brian Grazer
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Mature Thematic Elements)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 14, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $48.4M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SRD, DTS

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