The Dilemma Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

The Dilemma Blu-ray Movie Review

Mill Creek has released the 2011 film 'The Dilemma,' starring an A-list cast that includes Kevin James, Vince Vaughn, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, Channing Tatum, and Queen Latifah, to Blu-ray. The film first came to the market via Universal in 2011. The Mill Creek issue is not as good, primarily because it drops the assortment of extras from the Universal disc. Video and audio are quite nice, especially as part of a double feature that also includes 'The Break-Up.'

The Dilemma Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of The Dilemma is rock-solid and one of the better-looking titles that the studio has released. I did not review, nor do I have access to, the Universal disc, so I cannot offer a direct comparison, but it certainly appears that this image compares favorably to the Universal disc and is all but assuredly sourced from the same master. The picture is very, very solid. Compression issues are few and far between. While eagle-eyed viewers will spot some mild background macroblocking, there is nothing here that even hints at severity; such issues are infrequent at best and mild at worst. The picture is very good on the whole, yielding a handsome and attractively filmic image that is sharp, focused, and very crisp. Facial details are absolutely excellent; there are no complaints for visibility of fine pores and hairs. Clothes are wonderful as well. Location details are superb, including the dense and lush vegetation seen at the gardens where the film's main narrative thrust plays out. Colors are fine, too, offering vivid, robust hues that are neither underdeveloped nor overcooked. Contrast and temperature gradings are fairly baseline. Skin tones are lifelike, whites offer solid crispness, and black levels are just fine. This is a very good image from Mill Creek that assuredly compares very favorably to Universal's output.

The Dilemma Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Mill Creek brings The Dilemma to Blu-ray with a very good and very balanced DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that, like the video, is almost certainly very similar, if not identical, to the Universal issue. The presentation enjoys some robust content, especially considering revving car engines and heavy guitar riffs, both of which open up with power and depth as well as plenty of stage saturation. The film offers no real "action" elements per se, but these more intensive cues add some spice to the mix. Lighter music and score are also well defined and enjoy satisfying width and mild surround engagement. Supportive ambience is also nicely integrated, though again more front heavy than not. Not much is demanded of the track beyond the sporadic moments of higher intensity, so the net effect is a very balanced track overall. Dialogue is the main mover and shaker here, and it plays with very good front-center placement and good prioritization from start to finish, as well as excellent lifelike detail to every syllable.

The Dilemma Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unlike the Universal release, which offered buyers a slew of extras including a gag reel, deleted and alternate scenes, and a few featurettes, Mill Creek's issue is featureless, as is usually the case with the studio's re-releases, especially as part of double features. As it ships in the above linked double feature, no DVD or digital copies are included, and neither is a slipcover.

The Dilemma Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of The Dilemma is not at all poor. The video looks good and is not plagued by more than minor compression issues. The overall picture more than satisfies for clarity and color. Audio is solid, too, especially when afforded the opportunity to play with throaty engine revs and high impact music, and the lossless encode ensures plenty of accuracy to all elements. The big drawback here is the absence of the nice little assortment of extras from the Universal disc. Casual viewers should find this to be a good, affordable alternative means of owning the movie, but those desiring to enjoy a selection of extras need to shell out more for the Universal disc.