The Dilemma

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2:54

The Dilemma

PG-13

2011

1h 51m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

24%

Tomatometer

156 Reviews

29%

Popcornmeter

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

Jan 26, 2011

Rather less fun than a badly executed coronary bypass.

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David Denby

The New Yorker

Jan 24, 2011

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

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Jan 21, 2011

2/4

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.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Sep 13, 2025

1.5/4

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?

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Aug 3, 2023

1.5/4

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.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Nov 30, 2020

5/10

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

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Elaine D

@RT46418087 Aug 21, 2026

Terrible - not a Vince Vaughan fan anyway but this is really awful; what a waste of Jennifer Connelly and Winona Ryder - both relegated to vacuous, cheerleading roles.

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Eye C

@ECinc Aug 10, 2026

CRINGE THE MOVIE. I just can’t believe that the same person that makes Apollo 13 or even The Da Vince Code do this… thing… not for me by a long shot… I think I kind of hate it.

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Pip P

@PippingtonPea Jul 17, 2026

Horrible, all over the place. What a disappoint. Can’t believe Ron Howard touched it with a barge pole. Total mess of a film. Could have been so good with such a big cast but no…

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azeem H

@Azeem1 Jul 13, 2026

Having read the negative reviews, I was somewhat sceptical of this movie. However overall it's a solid movie with genuine laugh out loud moments just unfortunate that it's tone is all over the place. It tries to be a comedy yet at the same time be a drama. Vince Vaughn can be quite grating yet is ok for the most part, Kevin James is his usual self. Jennifer Connelly and Winona Ryder do well with what they have and Channing Tatum is clearly having fun working with big boys and girls. It's not particularly memorable from acting to directing but it's an easy watch.

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shane O

@Shanes_DVD_Shack Jul 1, 2026

Something went wrong with this movie . It could have been an enjoyable light hearted comedy but it took a few weird dark turns . They tried to turn it around at the end but it didn’t really land

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Jim H

@JimHawkins Jun 17, 2026

Boy, this is a stinker. The entire cast did it for the money. What a lame move.

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Ron Howard

Director

Vince Vaughn

Ronny Valentine

Kevin James

Nick Brannon

Jennifer Connelly

Beth

Winona Ryder

Geneva

Channing Tatum

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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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