The Dilemma

So here's my "dilemma". How do I reconcile how I feel about a great actor, director and writer making the most mediocre film possible? Fuck it, let them reconcile it themselves. The Dilemma is the story of Ronny Valentine (Vince Vaughn), who, along with his best friend Nick (Kevin James) owns a company that marries eco-technology with muscle car hardware. While preparing to sell their goods to one of Detroit's big three, Ronny discovers that Nick's wife Geneva is having an affair. The rest of the film highlights Ronny's struggle over whether he should tell Nick about his domestic woes whilst the two prepare for career greatness. This is the wafer-thin premise that we're expected to sit through for two hours all while putting up with Queen Latifah's "I'm a hip, cool lesbian so don't fear me" schtick. How is this premise stretched you asked? By filling the movie with sight gags (Vaughn falling into poisonous plants), and ludicrously conceived characters (an amped-up Channing Tatum as Geneva's partner in flagrante). Jennifer Connelly plays Beth, Ronny's girlfriend who is as cardboard a cutout character conceived in a while (as a reminder, Connelly has a bloody Oscar to her credit, from a film that Ron Howard ALSO also directed). Winona Ryder as Geneva is written schizophrenically, making it difficult to see her as either villain or victim. Ryder isn't a bad actress, and there is something nice about seeing her return to the screen, but this film will not do for her what Black Swan will, especially if it doesn't gross well.
Plotwise, there is some tacked-on crap about Ronny having a previous gambling problem, but it doesn't really matter. The only thing that saves The Dilemma at all is Vince Vaughn. He can unequivocally carry a comedy on his own two chubby feet. Without his talent, The Break-Up, Four Christmases, and Couple's Retreat would have never gotten out of the starting gate, let alone grossed over $100 million each. But so what? How many more of these mealy-mouthed efforts can we take from him? He seems not to want to stretch his abilities (as he did in 1998's Return to Paradise) nor stick with excellent envelope-pushing comedies like Old School. No, Vaughn has to go for gluttonous gold with the tepid rom-com in order to widen his audience as much as possible. I think with The Dilemma, America has just about hit it's limit where Vaughn is concerned. But why must we also sacrifice both national treasure Ron Howard and writer Allan Loeb? There were many on-set rumors that Vaughn wielded his producing power malevolently, both towards Howard and Loeb. It's possible that the film was better before Vaughn clashed with both talents, but also possible that his influences helped salvage it. There is simply no way to know.
My Comment implores the question, how much is enough? After Swingers, Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn were very candid about how fame had negatively impacted their lives. Favreau seemed to take a pause to evaluate what he wanted from the business, and directing proved to be a happier path for him. He soon married a civilian and had three children. Vaughn chose the way of the Affleck and hit the Hollywood clubs with a vengeance. He ate, drank and then dated Aniston, no one's successful cure for escaping the fame drain. After that long national nightmare was over, Vaughn bought permanent digs in his hometown of Chicago and met a civilian himself. Now married with a child, one would think Vaughn would be more settled and less of a prick. Apparently not. While Vaughn is a huge star who routinely pulls in #1 opening weekends for studios, there is no reason why he shouldn't polish Ron Howard's boots to a high shine if that's what Howard asked of him. If Vaughn is still made unhappy by the business, then he should cash in his chips, raise his family in the best city in the world and live a great life. Otherwise, man up and do some quality work where it's not all about the money. Also, maybe do a juice fast or two.