HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Vince Vaughn and Kevin James headline an all-star comedy from director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer about a man who finds out that what you don't say to a friend is just as important as what you do. Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder, Channing Tatum and Queen Latifah join them in The Dilemma, a story of how far you can bend a brotherly bond before it snaps.
Since college, confirmed bachelor Ronny (Vaughn) and happily married Nick (James) have been through thick and thin. Now partners in an auto design firm, the two pals are vying to land a dream project that would launch their company. With Ronny's girlfriend, Beth (Connelly), and Nick's wife, Geneva (Ryder), by their sides, they're unbeatable.
But Ronny's world is turned upside down when he inadvertently sees Geneva out with another man and makes it his mission to get answers. As the amateur investigation dissolves his world into comic mayhem, he learns that Nick has a few secrets of his own. Now, with the clock ticking and pressure mounting on the biggest presentation of their careers, Ronny must decide how and when he will reveal the truth to his best friend.
Watch: The Dilemma Cast Interviews
The Dilemma marks Howard's return to comedy after more than a decade helming blockbuster thrillers and dramas. Despite directing multiple hit comedies in the '80s and '90s, Howard does not choose his projects by genre, but by stories and situations that intrigue him. "Long ago I gave up on the idea of trying to manage my career by genre," he laughs. "I love all kinds of movies: big, small, comedy, drama, thriller or fantasy. Comedies are among some of my favorite, and what I want to avoid is making films where you absolutely know where the story is going."
He admits he was pleased to find a comedy project that was funny and relevant on a deeply human level. Continues Howard: "From a storytelling standpoint, it's an interesting blend that is fresh and fun to explore. It's been 12 years since I focused on making a comedy, and it was flattering and encouraging that comedic actors on the level of Vince Vaughn and Kevin James were interested in my ideas."
For Vaughn, it was most important that he'd found a director who would challenge him. "When we were developing the script, people said, 'This story sounds like a Ron Howard comedy,' recalls Vaughn. "It felt good to be part of something that brought him back to where he began in comedy. Nightshift, Splash, Cocoon and Parenthood are all classics and just fun movies. In a Ron Howard film, you're going to get sophistication without pretention. He has a great understanding of human behavior and an elegant way of revealing a story that's not self-indulgent and is very accessible."
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