The great thing about the movies is that we get to see things that would NEVER happen in real life.  No matter how fantastic, far-fetched or unrealistic the scenario – film can make it happen.  More than that, there is often something about film that really portrays the human condition.  Comedies in particular most often embody the “everyman” quality to which most people can relate.  Horrible Bosses is one such movie.  Even if your boss isn’t horrible, we’ve all had a job that we’ve hated at one point in our lives.  The movie perfectly depicts the sheer hell of an unpleasant workplace, and the main characters are they types of Average Joes we can all root for.  The movie tells the story of three friends with bosses that are so hellacious that the only way they can live a peaceful, happy life is to get rid of them.  Permanently.

Before we can see what gives rise to the ultimate act of employee vengeance, we need to see just how bad things have to be for an employee to actually murder his boss.  Friends Nick (Jason Bateman, Couples Retreat) Kurt, (Jason Sudeikis, Hall Pass), and Dale (Charlie Day, Going the Distance) don’t just dislike their bosses, they endure daily torture.  Kurt actually liked his original boss, but when he dies and the man’s cokehead son (Colin Farrell, Pride and Glory) takes over the company, things take a turn for the worst.  Nick’s boss is Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey), a heartless a-hole and merciless dictator.  Part of the reason Nick has remained at the company for so long is because he assumes that he’s in line for a big promotion.  Like many worker bees, Nick eats crap at the job because he thinks it’ll pay off in the long run.  But when Harken absorbs the new position into his already existing responsibilities, giving it to no one, Kurt reaches his limit.  Harken is so mean that he wouldn’t even give Nick a few hours off to visit his grandmother on her deathbed.  Lucifer himself would have to give the nod to Harken.

What’s nearly as terrible as a Cokehead Cretan for a boss or the meanest S.O.B. in the world? How about a Maneater?  At first blush it seems that Dale’s horrible boss isn’t so bad.  What straight man wouldn’t mind being complimented by an attractive woman at work, even if she’s your boss, right? Wrong.  It’s not just inappropriate, it’s illegal.  Jennifer Aniston as Dr. Julia Harris takes things to a new level.  Despite the fact that Dales is engaged, Julia repeatedly makes sexual advances towards him at work, threatening to tell his fiancé that they “sealed the deal,” unless he actually goes through with it.  While performing a dental procedure on him the first week he was hired, she sedated him and posed him in lascivious positions.  As a matter of fact, I think she actually slept with him while in that state.  That’s rape, not exactly a laughing matter although it is played that way in the movie.

You might ask, why don’t they just quit?  The movie addresses that.  While discussing that very possibility at the local bar, they run into an unemployed old friend who has resorted to giving hand jobs in the men’s room to make ends meet.  That scares them enough to not go quitting all willy-nilly.  Plus Harken tells Kurt that if he quits he’ll essentially make sure that he’ll never work in this town again.  Who can afford to start from scratch at their age?  Not many people.  So, while the initial idea to eradicate the higher ups started in jest, things quickly take a serious turn and the guys hire Jamie Foxx to help them pull it off.  What follows is a pretty funny attempt to commit the perfect crime in order to live a life of happiness.  It’s not very realistic, but the actors have great comedic timing and it works for the most part.  An SNL alum, Sudeikis could probably do this in his sleep.  Jason Bateman continues his career resurgence and also has a great rapport with the other actors in the movie.  Finally, Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Aniston were hilariously mean and raunchy.  I’ll bet they had a lot of fun making this movie.

Horrible Bosses had a lot of funny moments.  I’d say that it was on par with the Hangover 2, but not as funny as Bridesmaids, in my opinion.  There weren’t a lot of gross-out moments, and I appreciated that.  Things got a little silly at one point, but it didn’t detract from the overall comedic value of the movie.  Is it the can’t miss comedy hit of the summer? I wouldn’t say all that, but it’s pretty damn funny and has a good cast.  Well worth the cost of admission.

This article first appeared at www.poptimal.com and was reprinted with permission.

I’ll admit it: I’m a complete movie dork.  When I first saw the trailer for X-Men: First Class, I literally felt my heart race.  The movie was released nationwide on July 3, but I contemplated buying tickets a day early. I enjoyed the first X-Men movie, but had been disappointed by a couple of the sequels.  This latest addition seemed a bit different, and I was intrigued from the start.  The trailer teased me with previously unseen images like a young Professor Xavier with a head full of hair, ambling about with his pal Magneto. What?! I was sold.

First Class details the inception of the X-Men, a ragtag band of mutants helmed by the brilliant, young Charles Xavier (wonderfully played by James McAvoy, Wanted).  The movie presumes that viewers will be familiar with characters already, but it is not necessary to have seen any of the previous X-Men movies.  However, your viewing experience will be enhanced if you bone up on its predecessors before seeing First Class. The movie begins in a concentration camp where we see a young Magneto (real name Erik Lehnsherr) being separated from his parents.  His angst reveals a curious reaction:  the ability to bend metal.  As he cries in anguish, the gate separating him from his family buckles under the force of his will.  This feat is observed by the watchful eye of Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), a high level Nazi.  Seeking to harness young Erik’s power for his own purposes, he spares the boy’s life and summons him to his office, where he commands him to move a coin on his desk.  Only a boy, he does not fully understand the source of his power.  In a move that will forever shape Erik’s existence, Shaw produces Erik’s mother to spur him to action.  I won’t tell you exactly how a Nazi uses a Jewish boy’s mother as leverage against him, but use your imagination.  It isn’t pretty.  This early tragedy shapes Eric’s psyche and becomes the defining moment in his life.  He was not “normal” to begin with; how can he ever be normal now?  The movie moves forward to 1963, where Erik is in his 20s and has not forgotten the tragic events of his youth for one minute.  He is on a mission to find Sebastian Shaw and exact a measure of revenge.  It is the driving force within him.  Having mastered his powers, he will not be denied.

Shaw, a mutant himself – is now a nefarious nuclear arms dealer who has positioned himself in the middle of what is historically known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.  He wants to playAmericaandRussiaoff one another in hopes of starting a nuclear war whose aftermath will only be survived by mutants, allowing them to control the globe.  Meanwhile, theU.S.government has enlisted the help of Charles Xavier to understand the mutants who threaten international security.  James McAvoy infused Charles Xavier with a heretofore unseen charisma and panache.  We’re accustomed to Patrick Stewart in the role – older, serious, benevolent and wise.  I got a kick out of watching Xavier “spit game” to young women while his buddy Raven (Mystique) looked on.  First of all, Mystique goes on to become a villain, and I had no idea that she and Charles were once allies and friends.  Drawn together by their common abnormality, they displayed a familial kinship that reveals much about the circumstances that would shape these complex characters.  In their quest for Shaw, Charles and Erik cross paths and agree to work together – though they have very different agendas.  Charles wants to protect humanity, while Erik is wise enough to know that humans will turn on you in a minute.  He is concerned with avenging what happened to his mother, and nothing more.

I’ve said enough about the plot and won’t discuss it further.  There are too many details, and you have the gist of it.  I’d rather spend the remaining space discussing how the film revealed the circumstances that gave rise to characters with which we are already familiar.  Magneto (Michael Fassbender, Inglourious Basterds) Charles, and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone) were very layered characters.  The movie dismantled the dichotomy between “hero” and “villain,” in my opinion.  Yes, Magneto will go on to become a diabolical, evil character.  But he was not always that way.  He was shaped and molded into a monster and had very little chance of becoming anything else.  Why protect a world and a species that detests you?  Charles was always “good,” but is there always honor in turning the other cheek?  Is that wise or foolhardy?  Ironically, it is Charles that teaches Magneto how to harness his power, and there are at least two scenes in the movie where they literally risk their lives for one another.  It’s amazing that they will go on to be mortal enemies.  Particularly powerful is the scene that finally reveals Charles’ hallmark paralysis.  I won’t spoil it for you.  Mystique and Magneto develop a bond because it is he who accepts her in her natural form, even more so than Charles.  She does not have the luxury of concealing her mutant abilities unless she exerts energy in changing into human form.  Magneto does not reject her blue skin; he embraces it.  With him she truly finds a home, and viewers can see the manner in which her allegiance was formed.  I was fascinated by all of these storylines, and that is why you would be disadvantaged if you were totally unfamiliar with the franchise or comic book before seeing First Class.  But unless you’ve been living under a rock, I assume you’ve seen at least one X-Men movie.

I enjoyed the way actual historical news footage of President Kennedy was interspersed in the move, and I appreciated the wardrobe of the 1960s as well.  I know that’s a weird thing to say, but mod fashion was a signature of the 1960s, and the filmmakers got it just right.  I’d be remiss if I left you thinking that the movie was perfect, because it was not.  The beginning tragic scene with Young Magneto and his mother failed to resonate with me as it should have.  Maybe that was my fault, I don’t know – but it didn’t do what it should have done: really move me.  I got that I was supposed to be moved, but I wasn’t.  Additionally, when the other viewers in my theater first saw Kevin Bacon, they laughed LOL. I don’t know why, I guess we weren’t expecting it.  It was kind of like oh he’s in this? *snicker*  He did a great job, but that was just everyone’s intial reaction.  Sorry Mr. Bacon.  Also, this film should in no way be compared to The Dark Knight, as some are suggesting.  Totally different movies…let The Dark Knight be. No one in this movie can sniff Heath Ledger’s performance and let’s just leave it at that.  All that being said, I give a ringing endorsement to X-Men: First Class. Grade: A-

This article first appeared at www.poptimal.com and was reprinted with permission.

Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton, Just Wright) can’t seem to catch a break.  She’s young, beautiful, smart and successful.  The only thing missing from her perfect life is the perfect man.  When she meets Jason Taylor (Laz Alonso, Miracle at St. Anna) in a fortuitous accident, things seem to be looking up.  After a whirlwind romance, he proposes to her and they plan to marry on Martha’s Vineyard before moving toChina for Sabrina’s job.  There’s only one small problem – The Watsons and theTaylors have never met.  I’m sure any married couple can tell you that when you marry someone you’re not just marrying them; you’re marrying their family too.

Jumping the Broom is as much about the importance of family as it is about finding true love.  Jason and Sabrina don’t know each other very well, as they’ve only dated for six months before tying the knot.  Jason has met Sabrina’s parents, but his family remains a mystery until they show up for the nuptials.  When we first meet Jason’s mother (Loretta Devine, For Colored Girls) it’s no surprise that he was hesitant about introducing her.  She’s testy and rude and was determined to dislike Sabrina from the start.  Sabrina texted his mother that she was looking forward to meeting her (instead of calling personally), and Mama Taylor proclaims “Strike One!”  I’ll admit that a personal phone call may have been more appropriate, but did she really commit a cardinal sin here?  Mrs. Taylor undoubtedly loves her son, but that warm embrace turns smothering, and as time goes on she exposes Jason as a coddled Mama’s Boy who can’t find his own voice.  Sabrina’s mother (Angela Bassett, most recently of Notorious) is more refined and polite, but she’s a different brand of shrew.  She’s good at keeping up appearances, but she has a few secrets of her own, including a marriage on the rocks.  TheTaylors arrive on the Vineyard, including Jason’s uncle, cousin and his mother’s best friend.  The Watsons arrive as well, including Sabrina’s father, cousin and aunt.  At first I thought screenwriters Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs portrayed some of the characters as caricatures, because NOBODY is that blatantly jealous, petty, and negative. But when I thought about it again, there are usually at least one or two relatives that can never seem to be happy for you, even when they should be.  When Jason’s mother pokes her nose in the Watson’s family business and exposes a long-held secret, the wedding is in jeopardy.  Does Sabrina really want to marry a man whose mother is determined to hate her?  Will Jason stand up to her and find a backbone?  If a man can’t tell his mother “no,” before the wedding, what’s going to change afterwards?  Mama Taylor must decide if she wants to gain a daughter-in-law or lose a son, the choice is simple and difficult at the same time.

Laz Alonso and Paula Patton did a fine job with their performances, and they had a natural chemistry.  I think Paula Patton should continue to refine her abilities, but she held her own in scenes with Angela Bassett, whose performances are usually above reproach.  Romeo Miller, DeRay Davis, Tasha Smith, and Meagan Good were effective in their supporting roles, but I have to give the nod to Mike Epps (Lottery Ticket) as the comedic voice of reason for his bitter sister who could not seem to loosen the maternal grip on her son.  I enjoyed the movie and found it heartwarming, but there were a few cringe-worthy bits of dialogue.  As the fish-out-of-waterTaylors arrived on the Vineyard, they passed a few boats.  Those boats have nothing to do with the slave trade, but upon seeing them a character remarked that he feared being shipped back toAfrica.  After finding out that Jason and Sabrina would be moving toChina another asked, “Do they even allow Black people inChina?”  I find jokes like these trite, exasperating, and humorless.  I know the writers wanted to contrast the Taylors and Watsons, but that contrast didn’t have to be so sharp.  I guess if you highlight the divisions between the families so pointedly, it makes it all the more sweet when everyone kisses and makes up in the end.  At the end of the day, I enjoyed the movie and would encourage those viewers who dislike Tyler Perry not to draw any comparisons to some of his films.  It was a pleasant outing at the movies that reinforced the importance of love and family, and what could be more appropriate on Mother’s Day weekend?  Check it out.

This article first appeared at www.poptimal.com and was reprinted with permission.

The year was 1997. What should have been an unforgettable night ended up being an unmitigated disaster.  Oh yeah, my prom was unforgettable alright, but it was for all the wrong reasons.  My dress was an amateur creation, a homemade mess that bore no resemblance to the picture I’d given my aunt to use as an example of what I wanted.  My date was the first available guy I could find, some kid who worked at a shoe store at the mall.  He was an underclassman, but it was the best I could do.  The night ended in tears.  Like I said, it was unforgettable.  I understand that the prom is a big deal, so I was curious to see the Disney movie titled, quite simply: Prom.

The movie opens with a quick glimpse into the lives of several students at anIllinoishigh school.  The senior class is all abuzz with excitement.  High school seniors tend to mentally “check out” around spring break, as prom and graduation approach, and after those college acceptance letters start rolling in.  The movie is told primarily through the eyes of Nova, a high-achieving “most likely to succeed” type of kid who gets good grades and is very involved in school activities.  Nova is consumed with the prom. As chair of the prom committee she has been carefully crafting decorations for a magical “Starry Night” to send the senior class off with a bang.  Nova doesn’t have a date, but she hopes thatBrandon, also on the prom committee, will eventually ask her.  When he offhandedly suggests that they carpool together, she half-heartedly accepts.  All around the school, boys are coming up with creative and romantic ways to ask that special someone to the prom.  Here is where fantasy comes into play, because high school boys are simply not that sensitive, creative or romantic.  You would think they were extending marriage proposals with all the effort they were expending.  When resident jockTylerasks his cheerleader girlfriend to the big dance, he does it in the shed where the newly completed prom decorations are housed.  He set up a picnic with candles, but when he forgets to blow one of them out before they leave, all of the decorations go up in flames.  Nova is devastated, and the prom is in jeopardy.  The principal decides to force the school’s rebel without a cause to give Nova a hand, or else he won’t graduate.  Said rebel is named Jesse, and he was reprimanded earlier for cutting class.  Jesse hates the idea of prom, and only views it as a stupid reason for vapid kids to stand around in the gym listening to a lame DJ while drinking punch.

It turns out that Jesse has a sensitive side, and the reason he cuts class is so that he can pick his little brother up from school while their mother works overtime at her job.  Despite his rough exterior, he is actually kind – and he begins to see the prom through Nova’s eyes.  Although he thinks it’s silly, he appreciates the dedication she puts into making it special and even begins to buy into the idea himself.  Movies about high school tend to depict its characters in clearly-defined, rigid stereotypes.  This is somewhat realistic, if you think about it.  High schoolers tend to adhere to the social pecking order.  To that end, Prom is no exception.  There is The Overachiever, The Jock, Ms. Popularity, The Bad Boy, and finally: The Shy Kid.  The shy kid here is Lucas, and underclassman who can’t work up the nerve to approach Simone, his crush.  Unbeknownst to Lucas, Simone has a past withTyler, whose own prom date situation is in jeopardy.  Will he ever work up the nerve to ask her out?  I’m sure you’re waiting for that answer with baited breath (insert winky face here).

All jokes aside, Prom was a sweet little movie.  I definitely was not part of Disney’s target audience, but I’ll admit that it was not the unwatchable teeny bopper vehicle that I anticipated.  It is definitely not in the same league of classic 1980s high school movies like Pretty in Pink or The Breakfast Club, but it adequately captured the jittery unfamiliarity all teens experience as they navigate their way to young adulthood.  Take the ‘tween in your life to check it out – you won’t be disappointed.

This article first appeared at www.poptimal.com and was reprinted with permission.

My favorite movies are the ones that I can relate to, for whatever reason.  When I saw the trailer for Limitless, I was immediately intrigued by its premise of reaching your untapped potential.  We all fall short of our ideal selves, it’s only natural.  We’re only human, after all.  Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) begins as an Everyman but transforms into Superman.

Cooper is Eddie Morra, a fledgling writer mired in mediocrity.  Despite being signed to a book deal he has yet to write one word of his first novel.  He resides in a cramped, meager apartment in New York City, a non-descript speck amidst the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.  He has an ex wife and an ex-girlfriend, with whom he remains friends.  Her name is Lindy, and it’s not clear why they broke up or why such a girl (played by Abbie Cornish) would even be attracted to him in the first place.  In the first act of the movie we are introduced to Eddie’s life and the reason why he’d be desperate to change his circumstances.  Things change when a chance encounter on the street reunites him with his former brother-in-law, a sketchy Euro-looking guy named Vernon(Johnny Whitworth, 3:10 to Yuma).

Vernonconvinces him to grab a drink and tell him about his book.  Eddie looks like crap, and his progress on the book is pathetic. Vernonoffers him a translucent little pill, telling him it’s an early sample of an FDA approved drug called NZT. It’s not on the market yet, butVernontells Eddie that the pill would allow him to use 100% of his brain rather than the very small portion that we use on a daily basis.  Eddie is skeptical but pops the pill eventually.  Immediately he notices that his powers of perception are heightened.  He almost feels like a stranger in his own body.  He is “high,” but completely focused and lucid.  He is able to disarm his landlord’s bitchy girlfriend by using suddenly learned expertise in human psychology and behavior.  He can recall anything he’s ever learned, heard, or read.  That’s the magic of NZT.  It doesn’t make you know things that you never learned, but it allows you to access anything you’ve ever known, even if only a fleeting memory.  Seduced by the possibility of greatness, he visitsVernonand asks for more.  He’ll do anything for it, so whenVernonasks him to pick up his dry cleaning and grab some food, he happily obliges.  He returns to find thatVernonhas met an untimely demise.  After calling 911 he realizes that the NZT may be in the apartment, which had been ransacked byVernon’s killer.  He finds the NZT just as the police arrive, and is able to make off with a large quantity.

Over the next couple of weeks Eddie’s appearance and life change dramatically.  He gets a haircut and works out maniacally.  He finishes his book in 4 days and re-negotiates a lucrative new deal.  His editor is salivating.  Math becomes useful and he has cultural appetites.  He can learn a foreign language in a few days.  During this time Eddie borrows 100K from a loan shark, makes some tactical financial investments and increases his money five times over.  He’s on the front page of the gossip rags as the new kid on the block shaking up Wall Street.  In this capacity he draws the attention of wealthy magnate Carl Van Loon, played here by the legendary Robert DeNiro.  Van Loon is intrigued by Eddie but also mistrustful of him.  He commissions him to broker a deal, but in the midst of all this Eddie is beginning to suffer from negative side effects from the NZT.  He blacks out after periods of intense activity and his health seems to be in jeopardy, in more ways than one.  He’s being followed by a mysterious man who obviously knows about the drug or feels threatened by Eddie in some way.  After becoming the toast of the town, Eddie must face the possibility of losing everything when he runs out of NZT.

Limitless is my first time seeing Bradley Cooper in a starring role.  I think he is sympathetic and believable as a guy who gets in over his head.  Director Neil Burger displays a high octane, frenetically stylized cinematography to almost nauseating effect.  It was a rush, for sure.  Towards the end of the movie things got a little far-fetched for my liking, but the majority of the movie relied on its very provocative premise.  DeNiro is always fun to watch, but I can’t say this role was anything noteworthy.  Having said that, I still enjoyed seeing him on the screen how could I not? Despite a few missteps, Limitless is a wild ride definitely worth checking out.

This article first appeared at www.poptimal.com and was reprinted with permission.

When I saw the trailer for I Am Number Four, I was hooked immediately.  It reeled me in with the hint of suspense and a promise of great special effects.  Was this guy a mutant like the X-Men, does he have “super powers,” what’s going on?  I was intrigued by the little I knew of the plot: someone or something is hunting this kid and those like him.  Three have been killed already, and he is number four.  Break out the popcorn, I’m ready.

Number Four (played by gorgeous newcomer Alex Pettyfer) is “John,” a young man from another planet who travels from city to city with his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant, A Perfect Getaway) as they dodge evil aliens known as “Mogadorians.” The Mogadorians have driven them from their home planet of Lorien and destroyed their people.  The movie’s strength is not in the back-story, which is muddled and somewhat unoriginal.  That’s ok, I’m not nitpicking; but the concept of evil aliens who have destroyed an entire people and/or home planet is nothing new, whether it’s been done in Transformers or Superman.  Perhaps I’d appreciate the back-story more if I’d been able to read the book on which the movie is based, because something felt lost in the adaptation.  The writers seemed to be making it up as they went along, maybe because they spilled out the details all at once and it just seemed contrived.  Luckily for them, what happens in the present is more important than what happened in our characters’ past.  The movie opens with John and Henri having to leave town after John’s secret identity is revealed.  His supernatural abilities include otherworldly agility, strength, and speed.  He also seems to have a blue light force within, somewhat reminiscent of Gambit from X-Men.  Every time one of his nine remaining brethren is killed he knows intuitively, and that means he is one step closer to being killed himself, as they are being hunted in order.  When another Lorien is killed, a symbol becomes painfully etched on his leg, one for each death.  When he gets his third brand, he knows that Number Three is dead, and since the secret is out that John isn’t “normal,” he and Henri must find a new town and new identities.  They arrive in the ironically named town ofParadise,Ohio and try to blend in without raising any suspicion.  Meanwhile, the Mogadorians are tracking their scent and will not rest until the six remaining Loriens have been eliminated.

When they settle in their new town, things are somewhat predictable, from a cinematic standpoint.  John is the proverbial fish out of water, The New Kid.  Then there is The Bully, who of course has beef with John because of The Girl, a popular and pretty blonde named Sarah.  This all looks familiar, but again – I don’t mind because Number Four is endearing and unassuming and I’m rooting for him.  Actress Dianna Agron (Glee) ably portrays Sarah as a calming new presence in John’s life, providing respite from the danger and solitude he usually deals with.  Making matters more interesting is the fact that another from Lorien is following him, along with the Mogadorians.  Eventually this stranger meets up with John, revealing that she is Number Six.  Her powers are similar to John’s, but also different.  John has powers of tele-kinesis, while Number Six can resist flame, among other things.  Together they have a final showdown against the Mogadorians, as they try to save not only the residents ofParadise, but all of humanity.

I could see how some would dislike this movie.  There are better movies of this same type that have been done before; but I was entertained throughout, and I didn’t have many expectations beyond that.  Pettyfer in this role reminded me of Hayden Christensen’s turn in Jumper, which was similarly flawed but entertaining.  I Am Number Four set audiences up nicely for a sequel, and I enjoyed the special effects and action sequences as Number Four and Number Six battled it out.  If you like this genre, you won’t be disappointed.  I give it a solid B.

This article first appeared at www.poptimal.com and was reprinted with permission.

When I first saw commercials for the The Dilemma, starring Vince Vaughn (Couples Retreat) and Kevin James (Grown Ups), I didn’t have high expectations.  I expected the sophomoric humor that usually characterizes these actors’ respective film choices.  What I got instead was a very funny, surprisingly thoughtful movie about friendship and loyalty.

Vaughn stars as Ronny Valentine, an ambitious small business owner with a loving girlfriend and a seemingly great life.  Ronny’s best friend Nick (James) is also his business partner, and the two have an exciting new opportunity with Chrysler to design an energy efficient muscle car.  Ronny and Nick’s significant others Beth and Geneva, played by Jennifer Connelly (He’s Just Not That Into You) and Winona Ryder (Black Swan) also get along well, and the two couples seem to be madly in love.  Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Connelly had a wonderful chemistry together, so much so that I actually felt lonely watching them on screen.  That’s how happy they seemed! Anyway, things get interesting when Ronny decides he wants to propose to Beth and begins scouting locations.  While checking out some botanical gardens, he spies Geneva with another man (Channing Tatum, Dear John).  Ronny and Nick are in the midst of the deal of a lifetime with Chrysler, and any distraction would jeopardize their lucrative opportunity.  Furthermore, Ronny wants to marry Beth, and it’s crucial that the deal go through.  Nick is already high strung and very nervous about being able to hold up his end, and if his marriage crumbles his mind most certainly won’t be on his work.  When Ronny cautiously tells Nick that he has something he’d like to discuss with him, he flips out.  He tells Ronny that they don’t have time to discuss anything personal with the deal on the line.  Here is the dilemma in question.  Should Ronny tell his best friend that his wife is cheating on him, even though they are in the midst of a business deal that would change their lives? Or should he wait until they close the deal to break the news?  Ronny complicates matters further when he confrontsGeneva and she admits to the affair but promises to end it and to tell Nick the truth after they close the deal.  Can he trust her to keep her word, or is he being a terrible friend?  Feeling hampered by the circumstances, Ronny does his best to protect his friend without spilling the beans.  When he finds out thatGeneva hasn’t ended the affair, he tries to get evidence to use against her, butGeneva is holding a trump card of her own.

The Dilemma was a pleasant surprise.  It wasn’t all slapstick and cheap laughs.  Vince Vaughn and Kevin James are hilarious, but the movie struck a good balance of humor and thoughtfulness.  In one heartfelt scene, Ronny is at his wit’s end.  Everything is crashing down around him.  His relationship is suffering, because he’s had to lie to Beth because he didn’t want to tell her about Geneva’s cheating without telling Nick.  The Chrysler deal is in jeopardy, and most importantly his friendship is in trouble.  When he finally tells Nick, will he be angry that Ronny didn’t tell him sooner?  If he waits for Geneva to come clean, will Nick be angry that Ronny knew and didn’t say anything?  Ronny begins talking out loud to God, saying that if God is teaching him a lesson, he doesn’t want to learn it.  He doesn’t want to lose his best friend.  It was a touching scene that struck a chord with me, and a poignant moment amidst all the laughs.  I’m not saying The Dilemma is a classic or one of the funniest that Vince Vaughn has done.  It’s not, at all.   But director Ron Howard (Angels & Demons) is certainly no slouch, and his sure hand lends weight to the movie.  I give it a solid B.

This article first appeared at www.poptimal.com and was reprinted with permission.