Judging A Movie By Its Synopsis: The DILEMMA With Vince Vaughn & Kevin James

You are all very familiar with the expression: Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover but turns out we all do it to some degree. The best book in the world with the worst cover is not going to get the attention it deserves.

In the world of movies, you sometimes have very little to go on before knowing if you want to watch a movie or not. Sometimes you have a trailer, clips or even photos and posters. However early on, you only have the synopsis of the movie. Although we shouldn’t judge a movie based on its synopsis alone, I am going to go there nevertheless because I just couldn’t pass up this synopsis for the new Vince Vaughn movie The Dilemma also starring Kevin James.

Here is the official synopsis of the movie (my comments are in bold):

Vince Vaughn and Kevin James headline an all-star comedy

(What you really mean is Vince Vaugh is headlining the movie)

from director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer about a man who finds out that what you don’t say to a friend is just as important as what you do. Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder, Channing Tatum and Queen Latifah join them in The Dilemma, a story of how far you can bend a brotherly bond before it snaps.

(Ok to be honest they already lost me at Channing Tatum but let’s power through nevertheless)

Since college, confirmed bachelor Ronny (Vaughn) and happily married Nick (James) have been through thick and thin . Now partners in an auto design firm, the two pals are vying to land a dream project that would launch their company. With Ronny’s girlfriend, Beth (Connelly), and Nick’s wife, Geneva (Ryder), by their sides, they’re unbeatable.

(Vaughn as a confirmed bachelor who happens to also have a girlfriend, really? Hmm that sounds familiar. Maybe I should call Reese Witherspoon and ask her if she remembers. Also Winona Ryder’s character is named Geneva (pause)…Really? Geneva? Kill Me Now)

But Ronny’s world is turned upside down when he inadvertently sees Geneva out with another man and makes it his mission to get answers. As the amateur investigation dissolves his world into comic mayhem, he learns that Nick has a few secrets of his own. Now, with the clock ticking and pressure mounting on the biggest presentation of their careers, Ronny must decide what will happen if he reveals the truth to his best friend.

(Ok so let me get this straight, Homeboy is all up his in his friends’ marriage and he also has an important work presentation that he cannot mess up. Oh Hollywood, how will you solve this? Will he by any chance sabotage the presentation in order to be a good friend only to find out that this whole thing was a HUGE misunderstanding. Did I get it right?)

Final judgment: Pass. Hell I might watch it on premium cable when it airs but I will probably fast forward through the dumb parts of the movie, ie the parts with Channing Tatum (I kid, I kid. …not but really, the parts with Channing Tatum).

What you’re take on the synopsis of The Dilemma? Share your thoughts in the comments below.