Ron Howard

CHICAGO – The torch is being passed at Studio Ghibli from the great Hayao Miyazaki (“Princess Mononoke,” “Spirited Away”) to his son Goro, who directs this week’s tender “From Up on Poppy Hill,” certainly not one of the best in the Ghibli canon but a well-made, enjoyable melodrama nonetheless. A full awareness that it’s kind of a cheap melodrama (one of the characters even says so) doesn’t change the fact that it is but the young Miyazaki’s visual palette is notably beautiful and the voice work is strong throughout.

CHICAGO – I’m dating myself but I was a young, fantasy-obsessed teen when I first saw Ron Howard’s “Willow.” Revisiting it 25 years later in the newly-released Blu-ray, I was instantly stunned by how old the film looked. A lot of the physical effects, the general tone, the dialogue — it feels more like a ’70s movie than some ’80s fantasies that predate it (“Legend” and “Ladyhawke” come to mind). And a sinking feeling entered my bones. “Willow” isn’t great. Yes, it has some nostalgic charm and hardcore fans will dig the HD release but I hope you don’t have the same realization that I do that my 13-year-old self may have overrated it.

CHICAGO – Could this be the news fans of the old FOX series “Arrested Development” have been waiting for? Since the final episode of the canceled series aired on February 10, 2006, rumors and hope have swirled around that the comedy series would come back for a full length feature film. Now, the long wait may be over and fans could be getting more than just a movie.

CHICAGO – It’s easy to write off bad romantic comedies like “Something Borrowed” or “Valentine’s Day” but Ron Howard’s “The Dilemma” lives up to its title for this critic. There are elements that truly work but the film is tonally inconsistent and features a few near-awful supporting performances. Ultimately, it’s a marginally successful film, an unusual movie that passes the time without being truly memorable.

CHICAGO – In many ways, “The Dilemma” is director Ron Howard’s most daring film. Leaving behind the usual brightly lit, good/evil morality tales, Howard weaves a narrative basket filled with infidelity, gambling addiction, blackmail and mistrust.

CHICAGO – After a 12-year hiatus from comedy (his last was “Edtv” in 1999), the legendary (and typically dramatic) director Ron Howard is back to crack you up with “The Dilemma”.

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Jennifer Connelly

CHICAGO – The world premiere of the new Chicago-filmed dramedy “The Dilemma” was shown in Chicago on Thursday following a red carpet with stars Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, Channing Tatum, Amy Morton and Chelcie Ross.

CHICAGO – In our latest comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 15 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the highly anticipated new film “The Dilemma” with Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder and Jennifer Connelly!

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Left to right: Winona Ryder, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly and Vince Vaughn.

CHICAGO – Universal Pictures on Wednesday released new production stills for the new film “The Dilemma,” which was filmed in Chicago. The film, which stars Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder and Jennifer Connelly from director Ron Howard, opens on Jan. 14, 2011.

CHICAGO – After being unofficially named the “Untitled Cheating Project” and “Cheaters,” Universal Pictures told HollywoodChicago.com on Thursday that the official name of Ron Howard’s Chicago-filmed picture has changed from “What You Don’t Know” to “The Dilemma”.