The Dilemma Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "The Dilemma" is a high-quality audiovisual treat that aligns perfectly with the source material's demands. Presented in 1080p with an AVC encode, the film showcases deeply saturated colors that bring a vibrant and eye-pleasing vitality to the screen. The images maintain stable sharpness with crisp detail and appreciable subtle refinement, ensuring that facial details during close-ups are rendered perfectly. Certain scenes exhibit slightly better resolution than others, likely attributable to the original photography rather than any encoding issues. The contrast is dynamic yet balanced, offering respectable depth in blacks with discernible details in low lighting and shadows.

The AVC encoded 2.35:1 aspect ratio enhances the viewing experience, highlighting the city of Chicago with sparkling clarity. The Windy City's skyline and river shots look absolutely marvelous, with robust colors and fine detail. The palette is variegated, presenting strong and consistent blacks alongside excellent contrast. Notably, the aerial shots of Chicago are devoid of noticeable aliasing, a testament to the quality of this Universal BD release. While some second unit footage might seem just a tad soft, overall image sharpness is impeccable, even amid the film’s penchant for darker interior scenes where detail remains intact.

However, one minor quibble with the presentation is the occasional over-pumping of contrast levels, leading to a coppery hue on skin tones that slightly detracts from the otherwise stellar cinematography. Despite this, "The Dilemma" transfer impresses with its clear, clean, and shiny look, aligning well with expectations for a contemporary release fresh out of theaters. The absence of video-related artifacts further underscores the excellent video quality.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack for "The Dilemma" is impressively robust and dynamic. The bluesy music score, featuring great Chicago Blues, seamlessly envelops the surrounds, enriching the film's atmosphere. While dialogues are consistently clear and balanced in the center channel, the soundtrack excels in utilizing ambient sound effects and subtle background cues to enhance spatial dimensions. Directionality is notably effective, particularly with off-camera cues and sound effects, creating a fully immersive listening experience.

Dynamic range is extended beautifully with a surprising forceful low end, which stands out during scenes involving revving engines and high octane moments. The LFE roars to life, offering a much richer and more energetic audio experience than typical for comedic films. Subwoofer involvement, though not constant, is effectively engaging when implemented, adding depth to the overall soundscape—especially during climactic sequences like the United Center's closing scene and action-filled garage conversations.

Ambiance and discrete sound effects are finely tuned to the film's setting, significantly enhancing realism and immersion. From the bustling crowd at a Chicago Blackhawks game to the reverberant acoustics of expansive workspaces, the soundtrack ensures viewers feel as if they’re part of every pivotal moment. This meticulous attention to detail in audio presentation integrates beautifully with the film’s narrative structure, making it an exceptional auditory experience for a dialogue-centric comedy.

The Blu-Ray extras for "The Dilemma" offer a variety of supplemental content that should appeal to fans of the film. The alternate ending expands on a scene between Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Connelly, providing additional context not present in the theatrical release. Director Ron Howard’s introduction to the deleted scenes addresses why 45 minutes of footage, mostly comedic riffs from Vaughn and James, was cut. The gag reel delivers brief comic relief with on-set antics. "This is The Dilemma" is an EPK-style making-of featurette that dives into the film's origins and production. The Tour of Chicago section provides an interactive exploration of key filming locations, such as Garfield Conservatory and The United Center. Completing the package are a short feature on the ice rink scene, BD-Live, Pocket Blu App, My Scenes bookmark feature, and a digital copy.

Extras included in this disc:

• Alternate Ending: Extended scene between Vaughn and Connelly.
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Introduction by Director Ron Howard: 14 scenes explaining cuts.
• Gag Reel: On-set bloopers and laughs.
• This is The Dilemma: Making-of featurette.
• Tour of Chicago: Interactive look at locations featured in the film.
• On Ice: Featurette on shooting the final scene at The United Center.
• My Scenes bookmark feature
• Pocket Blu App
• BD-Live enabled
• Digital Copy

"The Dilemma," directed by Ron Howard and featuring Vince Vaughn and Kevin James, attempts to blend comedy and drama but ultimately results in a disjointed film that struggles with its tonal balance. The plot centers around Ronny (Vaughn), who discovers that his best friend Nick's (James) wife, Geneva (Winona Ryder), is cheating. As Ronny grapples with the titular dilemma of whether or not to tell Nick, the film oscillates uncomfortably between lowbrow comedy and dark melodrama, leaving viewers uncertain whether they should laugh or feel disturbed. Despite a strong cast, including Jennifer Connelly as Ronny’s girlfriend Beth, the film fails to harmonize its comedic and dramatic elements.

The script by Allan Loeb exacerbates the film's issues, veering between humor that rarely lands and melodramatic moments that feel out of place. Vaughn’s characteristic rapid-fire dialogue becomes grating over the film’s runtime, overshadowing other characters and contributing to an overall sense of frustration. The movie's premise—a genuinely intriguing ethical dilemma—gets drowned in a cacophony of Vaughn’s incessant monologues and convoluted subplots involving car engine designs and corporate meetings. Furthermore, key characters like Connelly’s Beth are underutilized, merely decorating the narrative rather than enriching it.

Ron Howard’s direction brings some visual flair, capturing beautiful shots of Chicago, but even this cannot salvage "The Dilemma" from its confused narrative trajectory. While the performances are commendable—particularly Ryder’s portrayal of the vicious Geneva—the screenplay’s reliance on forced misunderstandings and plot contrivances renders the film an overly long exercise in tedium. Ultimately, "The Dilemma" suffers from an identity crisis, unsure of whether it wants to be a laugh-out-loud comedy or a poignant drama, leaving audiences wrestling with their own dilemma: why bother watching?

"The Dilemma" Blu-ray release is a puzzling misadventure from the usually formidable director Ron Howard. Known for his precise control over his films' tone and style, Howard surprisingly misfires in this convoluted comedy-drama hybrid. Featuring an ensemble cast brimming with talent, the film flounders under the weight of a script that lacks coherence. Instead of delivering a harmonious blend of humor and drama, "The Dilemma" jarringly shifts between the two, leaving viewers in a state of confusion. This discordant approach detracts from any potential comedic or dramatic impact, rendering the movie an unsatisfactory viewing experience.

Despite its cinematic shortcomings, the Blu-ray presentation of "The Dilemma" does deliver technical excellence as expected from contemporary releases. The audio and video quality are commendable, offering crystal-clear visuals and immersive sound that make the most out of the high-definition format. The special features included are extensive, catering to perhaps the few enthusiasts who may find some merit in this film. However, it’s worth noting that even such technical achievements cannot salvage the fundamentally flawed content of the movie itself.

In conclusion, while "The Dilemma" might boast impressive audiovisual quality and a robust set of special features on Blu-ray, the movie's chaotic narrative and inconsistent tone make it a tough recommendation. It stands out as a rare misstep in Ron Howard's esteemed career, failing to deliver on its comedic promises or its dramatic potential. Unless you are an aficionado of one of the stars or a Blu-ray collector who values pristine technical quality over content, it’s best to skip this release.