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.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Aug 3, 2023

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

| Original Score: 5/10 | Nov 30, 2020

One can see hints of the brilliant dark comedy this film could have been.

| Original Score: 2.5/4.0 | Sep 6, 2020

Prepare to be annoyed by endless sports metaphors, but hey, at least there's Clint Howard in the obligatory weird-little-man role he has in all of his brother's films, so there's that.

| Original Score: C- | Jul 13, 2020

To its credit, The Dilemma treats the complicated tensions and sadnesses and joys of relationships with far more nuance than most modern comedies.

| Aug 25, 2017

Lacking any great surprises, this story meanders along trying to prolong the dilemma for as long as possible.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jun 30, 2013

The Dilemma is quite enjoyable until its characters stop behaving like rational adults and start acting like they've just realised they've got a film to finish.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 28, 2012

It deals with a serious issue of problems in a marriage, but it does so in such an ignorant, clumsy, sophomoric way with a sexist point of view that it loses any value, either morally or in terms of entertainment.

| Original Score: 1/10 | Nov 18, 2011

The man who grew up on sitcoms and then made agreeable diversions like Splash and Parenthood seems to have lost his comedic touch.

| Original Score: C- | Nov 18, 2011

Director Ron Howard, usually a surer touch behind the camera, seems out of his element here, unable to bring anything into clear comedic focus.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 9, 2011

The story may wander, and bears none of Howard's usual hallmarks, but the talent involved ensures The Dilemma offers more than just your average date movie.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 1, 2011

This film is familiar territory to director Howard ("Parenthood") but, as always, he finds a way to get the right performances from his actors...

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 16, 2011

Even for an experienced director like Howard, there are just too many problems to get around.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 14, 2011

In spite of the talent, The Dilemma misfires

| Jul 7, 2011

Feels like a throwaway effort by everyone involved.

| Original Score: 4/10 | Jun 7, 2011

An intriguing marital dramedy that rides the line between great and awful, often undone by lazy editing.

| Original Score: 6/10 | May 16, 2011

...far too sedate and uneven to make a wholeheartedly positive impact on the viewer.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 1, 2011

Do you trust this movie to tackle the issue with fairness and brains?

| Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 4, 2011

The Dilemma requires a director willing to indulge the dark comedy to its fullest. One name that style doesn't bring to mind for the job is Ron Howard.

| Original Score: C+ | Mar 9, 2011

Surely this balancing act involving both heartbreak and humor will polarize those who would prefer that the film stick to one or the other.

| Original Score: B | Mar 4, 2011