Film
The Dilemma
A buddy comedy about a man who discovers his best friend's wife might be cheating, then has to decide whether to tell him right before their biggest business pitch. It's a film caught between wanting to be a smart comedy about male friendship and a serious drama about betrayal, executed with uneven energy and an uncertain sense of what it actually thinks about any of it.
If you liked this
Wedding Crashers2005
Two friends using charm and deception to get what they want, only to have it blow up in their faces. It has real affection underneath the chaos, and the best moments come when the friendship itself becomes the real story.
But It's built on a pretty thin premise and relies heavily on improvisation that doesn't always land. Some stretches feel like watching people have fun without you.

I Love You, Man2009
A genuinely warm film about male friendship that doesn't reduce it to jokes. It finds real tenderness in men being vulnerable with each other, and it actually trusts the audience to care about the emotional stakes.
But The comedy is broader and safer than you might want. It's working pretty hard to be likeable, which can feel a bit calculated.

The Break-Up2006
Vince Vaughn doing what he does best—charming and wounded at the same time—in a story where the relationship itself is the problem. It swings between funny and genuinely painful without losing either thread.
But It's uneven in tone and the ending doesn't quite resolve the central tension. You might find yourself frustrated by characters who won't just talk to each other.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Dilemma
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
In Good Company2004
Both films turn on a male protagonist keeping secrets from someone he cares about, and both explore the cost of not telling the truth. But where The Dilemma panics and gets stuck, In Good Company commits to emotional honesty and finds the comedy in that vulnerability.
A film about two men (one young, one older) working together, learning from each other, with real stakes for their lives and the quality of the work itself. It finds humor in the gap between generations without ever winking at the audience.
But It's a romantic comedy underneath, and if you're not interested in that thread, the rest feels thin. It's quite gentle, which some will find refreshing and others will find tedious.

More like this (8)
About a Boy2002
Two people forced together who shouldn't work but absolutely do, learning from each other in ways neither expected. It's funny and touching without ever feeling sentimental, and the chemistry is real.
But It's deeply British in rhythm and structure. If you want constant jokes or big set pieces, this is quieter than that.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall2008
A comedy that actually cares about the pain underneath the funny parts. It's vulgar and sharp but also genuinely kind to its characters, even the ones you're supposed to hate.
But The humor gets pretty crude. Some jokes land badly, and the resort setting feels thin for stretching a concept.

The Hangover2009
A well-constructed comedy where the mystery of what happened drives everything forward. The cast commits fully and the script knows exactly when to escalate the absurdity.
But It's become a bit of a cultural artifact that overshadows watching it fresh. The middle section relies on shock humor that's dated.

Old School2003
Vince Vaughn at peak improvisational energy, working alongside Will Ferrell in something genuinely anarchic. It doesn't bother with plot—it's just committed people doing silly things with complete confidence.
But It's shapeless. The humor is very of-its-era and some of it lands with a thud. It asks nothing of you but it also gives nothing back.

Four Rooms1995
A film about obligation and choice that keeps escalating, where a man keeps saying yes to things he should refuse. It's strange, uneven, and committed to its own logic in ways that feel refreshing.
But It's genuinely odd and fractured. If you want a cohesive story, this is going to frustrate you. It's a curiosity, not a pleasure.

Thank You for Smoking2005
A smart comedy about a deeply flawed person trying to navigate loyalty and success. It's witty without being cold, and it trusts the audience to handle moral complexity in a comedy.
But The satire can feel surface-level, and the charm of the main character might feel like it lets him off too easy. The tone is consistent but thin.

This Is Where I Leave You2014
Both explore a character learning difficult truths about people they thought they knew, set against professional or family obligations. The Dilemma is about a friendship; this is about a family. But they're asking the same question: What do you do when you find out someone you love is living a lie?
A film about a group of people forced together by obligation, navigating betrayal and secrets in the family structure. It's warm and chaotic, taking everyone's pain seriously while still finding real comedy in their dysfunction.
But It's an ensemble and nobody quite gets the focus they need. It tries to balance too many storylines and some feel abandoned. It's solid but overstuffed.

Krisha2016
Where The Dilemma is about a man who discovers uncomfortable truths and has to decide whether to speak them, Krisha is about a man who has lived inside a lie for years and must finally tell it. Same engine—consequence of secrets—but Krisha commits to the weight of that consequence, treating it as tragedy rather than plot complication.
A film about addiction, family, and the gap between who we want to be and who we are. Shot partly with non-actors, it's raw and unsentimental, finding grace in small moments rather than grand gestures.
But It's grim and slow. There's almost no humor and the ending doesn't resolve anything neatly. If you want catharsis, this offers none.

People
Cast
Vince VaughnRonny Valentine
Kevin JamesNick Brannen
Winona RyderGeneva Brannen
Queen LatifahDana
Clint HowardHerbert Trimpy
Rance HowardBurt
Laura WhyteSue
Amy MortonDiane Popovich
Talulah RileyConcept Car Spokesmodel
Chelcie RossThomas Fern
Directing
- Ron HowardDirector
- Sherry GallarneauScript Supervisor
- Michelle GonsiorekSecond Second Assistant Director
Writing
- Allan LoebWriter
Production
- Kathleen McGillAssociate Producer
- Louisa VelisAssociate Producer
- William M. ConnorAssociate Producer
- Jane JenkinsCasting
- Janet HirshensonCasting
- Jenn GawCasting Assistant
- Allison BaderCasting Associate
- Jamie StiresCasting Associate
- Josh BreitCasting Associate
- Melissa PryorCasting Associate
- Kim RothExecutive Producer
- Todd HallowellExecutive Producer
- Victoria VaughnExecutive Producer
- Brian GrazerProducer
- Ron HowardProducer
- Vince VaughnProducer
- Justin HautProduction Coordinator
- Vail RomeynProduction Supervisor
- Kathleen McGillUnit Production Manager