Director Ron Howard (Splash) returns to his comedy roots with The Dilemma, a deft screwball drama-comedy with a decidedly modern spin. Costars Vince Vaughn (Ronny) and Kevin James (Nick) manage to be funny as well as poignant--and their "bromance" is one of the most touching and believable relationships on the big screen. The supporting cast is top-notch too. Jennifer Connelly, effortlessly lovely and graceful, plays Beth, Ronny's girlfriend. Winona Ryder, who makes a welcome return to film, plays Nick's wife, Geneva. "The dilemma" of the title occurs when Ronny sees Geneva with another man. Should he tell his best friend his wife is cheating on him? And what's the best time to drop a bombshell like that on someone you love?

The Dilemma is surprisingly poignant for a comedy--the emotions and heartbreak are faced straight on. And Vaughn and James are more than capable of expanding their doofusy personas to show nuance and defeat. The supporting cast, as with all Howard films, is also great--including Channing Tatum as Geneva's partner-in-crime; Queen Latifah, who commands the screen as always; and of course Howard's brother Clint in a cameo. But the heart of The Dilemma is played out among the four main characters, who are solid, engaging, and sometimes appropriately off-putting. The Dilemma asks "Is honesty really the best policy?" And the answer, deftly portrayed with rueful humour and poignancy, is somewhere between secrets and lies. --A.T. Hurley