How Do You Know

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How Do You Know

PG-13

Released Dec 17, 2010

2h 1m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

31%

Tomatometer

148 Reviews

25%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Lisa Jorgenson's (Reese Witherspoon) entire life has been defined by softball, but at 31, she is deemed too old to play and cut from the team. After being cast adrift, she begins a fling with Matty (Owen Wilson), a charming womanizer who plays professional baseball. About the same time, she goes on a blind date with George (Paul Rudd), a businessman on the hook for stock fraud. Caught in a romantic triangle with the two men, Lisa ponders the meaning of love.

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Critics Consensus

How Do You Know boasts a quartet of likeable leads -- and they deserve better than this glib, overlong misfire from writer/director James L. Brooks.

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

Three likeable stars and Jack Nicholson. Can you take this foursome and make a film that makes you want to barf the moment it opens? Yes, if the film is How Do You Know.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 3, 2019

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Bill Goodykoontz

Arizona Republic

Some of the bits are funny, every now and then they're sweet, the performances are OK and really, with this much talent involved, it's hard not to be disappointed in that.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 12, 2011

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Philip French

Guardian

Though neither mindless nor insensitive, this interminable movie falls far short of Brooks's best work, which is to say Broadcast News and As Good As It Gets.

Jan 31, 2011

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A serviceable, low-key romantic comedy that’s just entertaining enough to keep our attention, but with few flourishes to last in our memory the way Brooks’ movies usually do.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 3, 2023

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

At least a modest disappointment for those of us who consider ourselves fans of James L. Brooks.

Rated: 2.5/4.0

Sep 11, 2020

Full Review

Brent McKnight

The Last Thing I See

Earnest and watchable, there are some incredibly funny moments, but in the end, this isn't anything more than a middle-of-the-road rom-com.

Rated: C

Jul 14, 2020

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Daniel R

Quite simply the worst movie I have ever had the displeasure of watching through and through. To its merit, it develops such a random, badly wit, unpredictable and downright ridiculous plot that you can't help but wonder what comes next. Every scene seems to be a shuffle on random ideas that can barely be put together. The characters are fairly interesting and the actors do their best, but their rants are meaningless combination of words and their chemistry and general relationships are vague and unbearably cringe. The jokes don't land. There is absolutely no sense of realism or common sense in the day to day interactions portrayed. I describe it as cringe for a lack of a better word. I am just in awe that $120 million dollars were put to such waste.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

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Daniel W

It’s funny, romantic, the performance isn’t bad, but it is very predictable. Yet from this talent you’ed expect more. But either way it was sweet and deserves more than a 31%.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

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Vince B

This is without a doubt jack Nicholson best performance since the shining

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/11/25

Full Review

Filippos S

I tried to finish the movie ..like 4-5 times (days).

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

Full Review

Rosie J

I’ll be honest - I didn’t finish it. The pace of the film was too slow for me, having still not reached the core of the film’s synopsis 40 minutes in. Thus far it has just been a string of scenes without much character or even plot development. I reckon the director could have cut a quarter of the script out.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/04/25

Full Review

Mary J

This movie should be titled “Lisa Leaves And Lisa Returns Again”. One of the most boring movies I’ve ever seen.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/21/25

Full Review

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James L. Brooks

Director

Reese Witherspoon

Lisa

Owen Wilson

Matty

Paul Rudd

George

Jack Nicholson

Charles

Kathryn Hahn

Annie

How Do You Know: Official Clip - You're a Moron!

1:24

How Do You Know: Official Clip - I Bribed an Egyptian

3:02

How Do You Know: Official Clip - You Didn't Get It?!

4:24

How Do You Know: Official Clip - Temporary Amnesia

3:44

How Do You Know: Official Clip - Can I Come Over?

2:01

How Do You Know: Official Clip - You Love Me Too

2:43

How Do You Know: Official Clip - The Play-Doh Story

2:21

How Do You Know: Official Clip - A Confident Break-up

1:10

How Do You Know: Official Clip - Awkward Date

3:21

How Do You Know: Official Clip - Sexy Clapping

1:11

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Synopsis

Lisa Jorgenson's (Reese Witherspoon) entire life has been defined by softball, but at 31, she is deemed too old to play and cut from the team. After being cast adrift, she begins a fling with Matty (Owen Wilson), a charming womanizer who plays professional baseball. About the same time, she goes on a blind date with George (Paul Rudd), a businessman on the hook for stock fraud. Caught in a romantic triangle with the two men, Lisa ponders the meaning of love.

Director: James L. Brooks
Producer: James L. Brooks, Paula Weinstein, Laurence Mark, Julie Ansell
Screenwriter: James L. Brooks
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Production Co: Gracie Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Strong Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 17, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $30.2M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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