Ronnie (Vaughn) and Nick (Kevin James) are best friends and have been since their college days at Ball State. Twenty years later, they're trying to impress the brass at Chrysler with Nick's engineering genius. He's working on an engine that would revolutionize the hybrid car. Meanwhile, Ronnie is the quick-talking salesman trying to keep both the deal and Nick from falling apart. It's the deal of their lives and Nick is stressed as hell. Ronnie soon finds stress levels reaching new heights when he catches Nick's wife (Winona Ryder) cheating with some tattooed stud muffin. Ronnie's sticky dilemma sets off a domino effect of sorts and yadayadayada everyone ends up ready for an intervention.
It's okay. I'll go with 3.0 Stars--the sunny side of okay. We're dealing with a pretty serious problem here. I just assumed that with Vaughn and James headlining the show, the whole thing would be dealt with using a combination slapstick humor (I mean, we're dealing with the guy who brought Paul Blart to life, right? Yeah--let's hope someone has since pulled the ole plug) and Vaughn's dry wit. Yes, I suppose that we do, indeed, see that combo. However, you've also got a film that goes in a very heavily serious direction that, at times, makes you wonder if someone spliced together Taxi Driver with Terms of Endearment. Then again, we've got Ron Howard directing this project. I suppose it wouldn't be like Howard to keep it light for 111 minutes, but I really wasn't ready for that kind of weight with this flick. As soon as the credits rolled, I started a Google search for a shrink who might be looking for challenge--this was intense stuff far beyond my expectations.
Yes, there are laughs here and the acting is what's it's supposed to be. James, hit a dramatic note or two, which was actually an interesting departure from the host of bumbling characters he's played in his career. As for Vince Vaughn, if you've been exposed to any of his movies in the last 12 years, you've seen that same dry, witty charisma that continues to bring dollars to the box office. Although, according to The Movie Times, he's hovering outside of the Top 50 box office grossers. Actually, I love the guy, but I'm beginning to wonder if he's really acting at all. Maybe it's not acting as much as it's just his personality. He's been repeating essentially the same role for quite awhile. Wedding Crashers. Couples Retreat. Four Christmases. Fred Claus. The Break Up. Dodgeball. I could go on, but alas, different movies...different characters...same persona. I would love to see him show a little range at some point.
The Dilemma is nothing you have to see big, but rent it when you're ready for a Jekyl and Hyde experience that will create a few smiles and spike your own stress levels a bit. Although, should you ever catch your best friend's wife cheating on him--skip this one altogether. You won't want to pick up any ideas! This is not a "How To" manual on dealing with such a dilemma.
True...OUT!
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