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THE DILEMMAMovie Reviews
Comedy drama about a man who discovers that his best friend's wife is having an affair and must determine what (and what not) to tell his friend. Cast:Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, Channing TatumDirector:Ron HowardRelease Date:January 14, 2011DVD Release:May 3, 2011From:UniversalRating:PG-13Length:1 hr 58 min
The Dilemma played to weak reviews. • Richard Corliss wrote in Time, "...so schizophrenic, it suggests that Howard gave different signals to different actors.... the women dig earnestly for subtext that isn't there." • And Andrew O'Hehir wrote for Salon, "...an implausible, pseudo-comic stew... juvenile and just not all that funny... raises many questions, but none of them are worth thinking about any further." More Reviews Below...
The Dilemma Positive Reviews (41 Reviews, reviews below)
Jake Coyle, Associated Press: MODERATE(cg) "...begins and ends in hokey cliche, but for a brief period in the middle, it carries a slight hint of Billy Wilder, playing uncomfortable stuff for not entirely dumb laughs."(See all of Jake Coyle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 698 words, 01/13/11
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...the conundrum at the center of the story isn't particularly hilarious.... a great story premise; it's just not particularly built for laughs."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 444 words, 01/14/11
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: MODERATE(cg) "...tepid drama and mediocre comedy stirred together into a stew so uneven in tone and texture that it's likely to cause more than a few viewers indigestion."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 730 words, 01/12/11
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (13 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...a bromantic melodrama, an unabashed weepie... within its slick, cozy, commercial parameters it has an interestingly rough texture."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 845 words, 01/14/11
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: POOR(cg) "...sadly unfunny... tonal mishmash cripples the film almost immediately, though there are many other speed bumps, including Vaughn's irritating, fast-talking prattle."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 398 words, 01/14/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "While Ron Howard hits most of the darker notes, the filmmaker proves too indulgent with the lighter riffs, when a little restraint would have made for a better film."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 851 words, 01/14/11
Kyle Smith, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "There is much to say about the love that, except in comedies, dare not speak its name -- the kind between straight men. The film says enough of it to be interesting."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 743 words, 01/14/11
Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times: MODERATE(cg) "...raises some interesting points and has a few good laughs, but it's wildly inconsistent and uneven, and has a serious identity crisis."(See all of Richard Roeper's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 894 words, 01/14/11
Bruce DeMara, Toronto Star: WEAK(cg) "...feels strangely pointless.... takes almost two hours to resolve itself in a way that feels clumsy, tedious and unsatisfying.... Go see something else."(See all of Bruce DeMara's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 510 words, 01/14/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: POOR(cg) "...the latest step in Ron Howard's attempt to recapture his past glory as a populist filmmaker, and apparently that involves making a terrible Vince Vaughn comedy."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 209 words, 01/13/11
KEY CITIES (12 Reviews)
Stephanie Merry, Washington Post: MODERATE(cg) "...neither Vince Vaughn's quick wit nor his chemistry with Kevin James can transform 'The Dilemma' into the gold standard of buddy comedies."(See all of Stephanie Merry's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 492 words, 01/14/11
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: WEAK(cg) "What distinguishes the film is its resounding unfunnyness, its emotional dishonesty, and the general unlikability of its cast of characters."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 448 words, 01/14/11
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: MODERATE(cg) "...an unsatisfying if often surprising experience, a less warm and fuzzy 'Parenthood' from a director long removed from his warm and fuzzy years."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 602 words, 01/14/11
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "There are a few big laughs, but there are also long stretches in which nothing funny happens.... It's never dull, but it's also a mess."(See all of Randy Cordova's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 372 words, 01/14/11
Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News: MODERATE(cg) "The 'electric cars are gay' line that drew heated debate months before 'The Dilemma' opened is probably the only notable aspect of this surprisingly bland comedy."(See all of Gary Dowell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 476 words, 01/14/11
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: POOR(cg) "If you see this movie, you will hear Vince Vaughn in your nightmares.... It doesn't help that the only ones laughing at the gags are the people in the movie."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 504 words, 01/14/11
Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle: MODERATE(cg) "None of the romantic couplings has much pizzazz: The real chemistry in the movie, and the only real relationship, is between the two male leads."(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 395 words, 01/14/11
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: MODERATE(cg) "...a rollicking comedy, it isn't.... when it isn't trying to be funny it's a fairly successful drama. And there's something wrong with that."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 510 words, 01/15/11
Adam Graham, Detroit News: GOOD(cg) "Vince Vaughn makes the most of the material, and his performance saves the film. He chews a big hole through the center of the movie, and is the only thing left standing..."(See all of Adam Graham's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 308 words, 01/14/11
Katey Rich, Cinema Blend: WEAK(cg) "...isn't exactly a good movie, nor is it weird or disastrous enough to be some kind of midwinter indoor sideshow, but it's fairly interesting to observe..."(See all of Katey Rich's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 648 words, 01/14/11
Paul Schrodt, Slant: POOR(cg) "No director better embodies American mediocrity than Ron Howard. His movies aren't exactly bad... They're so unremarkable they're actually frustrating."(See all of Paul Schrodt's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 498 words, 01/13/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: POOR(cg) "...the latest step in Ron Howard's attempt to recapture his past glory as a populist filmmaker, and apparently that involves making a terrible Vince Vaughn comedy."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 209 words, 01/13/11
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...a bromantic melodrama, an unabashed weepie... within its slick, cozy, commercial parameters it has an interestingly rough texture."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 845 words, 01/14/11
David Denby, New Yorker: GOOD "...a mess, but it's an affecting mess, and my guess is that those who can put up with it's wayward manner may make it a cult hit -- and deservedly so."(See all of David Denby's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 556 words, 01/17/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "While Ron Howard hits most of the darker notes, the filmmaker proves too indulgent with the lighter riffs, when a little restraint would have made for a better film."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 851 words, 01/14/11
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: POOR "...an implausible, pseudo-comic stew... juvenile and just not all that funny... raises many questions, but none of them are worth thinking about any further."(See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 801 words, 01/14/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Justin Chang, Daily Variety: POOR "...not a particularly funny movie.... seeks to explore uncomfortable, even off-putting relationship terrain under the guise of a mainstream crowd-pleaser..."(See all of Justin Chang's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 941 words, 01/11/11
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter: POOR "...thinks it's a light and slightly rude Vince Vaughn movie. It's not.... strands several talented actresses who have nothing to do other than gape in disbelief..."(See all of Kirk Honeycutt's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 642 words, 01/11/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "While Ron Howard hits most of the darker notes, the filmmaker proves too indulgent with the lighter riffs, when a little restraint would have made for a better film."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 851 words, 01/14/11
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: MODERATE(cg) "...misguided... one of the few Ron Howard films that lacks a firm hand, seldom finding its right mood, variegating from dark and somber to warm, funny, and fuzzy and back."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 788 words, 01/12/11
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...a bromantic melodrama, an unabashed weepie... within its slick, cozy, commercial parameters it has an interestingly rough texture."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 845 words, 01/14/11
20.9 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Dilemma's reviews are separated by an average 20.9 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
The Dilemma (41 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Dilemma's reviews cover 69.7% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 21,973 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 536 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Dilemma Coverage, Volume & Length (41 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 0.9 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Dilemma's reviews on average broke 0.9 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is The Dilemma's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Dilemma (41 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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