Hold the secret or get shot as 'the messenger'...?

These days Vince Vaughn's the comedy man, almost exclusively acting for laughs, and his latest role in The Dilemma is no different. After screenwriter Allan Loeb's last big screen project, The Switch, you'd be forgiven for approaching The Dilemma apprehensively. Thankfully seasoned director Ron Howard (Cinderella Man, A Beautiful Mind, Parenthood, Willow) is at the helm.

Vaughn plays Ronny, an ex-gambler who now works as a business partner with his best friend, Nick (Kevin James). Attempting to combine the benefits of electric cars with the sexiness of the Dodger Challenger/Charger series, they're embarking on a big money deal. Just as work is starting to get heated and Ronny is planning the “greatest proposal in the history of all proposals” to his girlfriend, Beth (Jennifer Connelly), Ronny's world crumbles when he sees Nick's wife, Geneva (Winona Ryder), with another man.

Previously his “hero couple”, the imminent collapse of Geneva and Nick's marriage leads to Ronny questioning his own relationship and drowning in the pressures of the ultimate dilemma; should Ronny tell his friend and affect his work performance at a critical time or wait until afterwards? His decision is complicated by friends repeatedly reminding him of the old saying “shoot the messenger” and his own secret college days past with Geneva.

The Dilemma is full of moments where a laughter cue would undoubtedly be used if it were a TV sitcom. When Ronny first discovers Geneva's infidelity he falls over into poisonous plants, leading to some nasty physical reactions and a mildly amusing cover-up story. His attempts to gauge the best plan of action in the bank by providing complex hypothetical situations are also supposed to be funny, as are scenes showing him talking out loud to God, and the embarrassing toast that he makes at Beth's parents' 40th anniversary.

What is genuinely entertaining is the 'selling speech' Ronny gives to bag the electric car deal, and the cloak and dagger farce that ensues as most of the cast suspiciously tail each other around.

Queen Latifah makes an appearance as Ronny and Nick's project supervisor. Reprising the less irritating, more subtly-comic role that she took on in Valentine's Day, Latifah is given some of the best lines. Worshipping the ground the boys walk on, she thinks they're “visionary mavericks… gun-slingers” and repeatedly highlights her “serious lady-wood”.

Channing Tatum is the other surprise source of humour, amusingly playing Geneva's lover, Zip, while Ryder acts as the villain, seriously milking Geneva's evil and manipulative streak.

A bromance buddy-movie at heart, The Dilemma explores trust issues, how well you really know the ones you love - and puts friendships to the test. Although not as funny as it's clearly meant to be, the film has a fine cast and a serious underlying message that most can relate to, and The Dilemma bravely doesn't round off with ubiquitous smiles, but still manages a nice neat 'ice-hockey' ending.

Director: Ron Howard
Writer: Allan Loeb
Running Time: 112 mins
Certificate: 12A
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, Channing Tatum, Queen Latifah

The Dilemma is on general release in the UK now

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