Rumor Has It, There is a Dilemma

The Dilemma is a successful version of Neil Simon’s anachronistic attempted comedic farce Rumors. When I went to see this movie, I was not sure for what I was in store. I saw a resurrection or second chapter of Vince Vaughn’s work in the Break Up. There even was a canal for his tour boat. In actuality The Dilemma, directed by Ron Howard, was an in depth sometimes heart-wrenching character study of two married couples whose husbands are partners in the auto business. I believe fully Vaughn stepped up to the plate and could be chosen M.V.P. of the sincere, passionate, emotional leading man role. While many of his emotional responses were honed in the The Break Up, the presence of two co-leading ladies, Winona Ryder and Jennifer Connelly, diverts the painful ones or eases them with comedic intervention. One does not know upon entering the theater what genre the movie is. It unfolds as a drama that successfully masquerades as a comedy. The King of Queens handles the other male role. Why is The Dilemma successful and Rumors not? In this case The Dilemma is not a farce. In Rumors Simon needs more preparation setting the scene of an act in the Theater of the Absurd or the Three Penny Opera. Somehow an exquisite mansion and formal wear imply nothing of a forthcoming what-should-be light-hearted comedy. Instead it is pretentious making the consequent attempts at comedy fail. The characters do not know whether to be lowbrow, highbrow, or what results naturally in his play, neurotic. Watching neurotic affluence, while probably natural in their own circles, is unnerving. It is like watching a car careening out of control down an embankment with no happy ending in sight. At least in the Dilemma this is something about which the King was compelled. Rumors should be in the suspense category like a cheeky Agatha Christy novel, something sure to doom a Broadway bound production. Rumors emerges as an unsuccessful attempt at theater. There were a few good ideas, but Simon didn't show the technique to pull it off. The Dilemma does pull it off. It allows human moments unknown to the audience to unfold, develop, and drive the plot absorbing you in the drama. It breathes, improvises, and eventually shows compassion, something lacking severely in Simon's Rumors. Rumors is stiff just like its characters. Ron Howard opens the film with a large dose of Jennifer Connelly’s affection possibly foreshadowing the ending. Her's and Vaughn's chemistry seemed genuine, more than his chemistry with Jennifer Anniston in the Break Up. That is why they broke up. This makes the movie more palatable as a comedy. It had a happy ending, at least for three. Kevin James's marriage did suffer the consequences of its fate. The discovery of his friend’s wife’s affair created the dramatic tension, and Vaughn's resulting neurosis was the film. Luckily as a good guy should Vaughn remained true to his would be spouse, stays off the gambling, and eventually is loyal to his friend and business partner. Although psychologically continually the movie insinuated Vaughn would come out the loser, he won. It was a triumph.