How Do You Know

PG-13

Released Dec 17, 2010

2 hr. 1 min.

Romance

Comedy

List

31%

150 Reviews

Tomatometer

25%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Test T

I watched this on DVD recently. It has lots of star acting talent, and is well made with expertly shot pleasant scenes in pretty locations. With all this you would think it would be a hit movie, but sadly it's not. The story is overly stated, in that the characters spend far too long wallowing in self analysis explaining their motivations which makes the movie feel slow and tiresome. Having watched the DVD extras I think it's the director's fault. There are some funny scenes, and I enjoyed Owen's & Jack's performances most. I found Reese's and Paul's characters disappointing, and somewhat unappealing. Over all, it's OK, but fall's way short of what it should have been.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

E C

I love this movie and watch it often. It's not mind blowing but it feels so comfortable and I wish there were more new movies like it. I'm sad to see the poor reviews and I think they're missing the charm and small nuances that make it great. It's not in-your-face, filled with thrills and stunts, or trying to invent something new…but if you love movies about people that walk you through relationships, stage plays, and rom coms from before the 2000s, you'll probably love this too. While the dialogue isn't realistic, it's refreshing how direct and open the characters are. And although it's heavy handed, as a therapist, I think does an amazing job of demonstrating attachment styles and relationship dynamics. So, if you're looking for a dreamy feel good movie that lets you escape into an idealized version of modern romance while also giving you glimmers of movies like Sleepless in Seattle or When Harry Met Sally, please give it a watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/04/23

Full Review

Sherry S

How Do You Know? Well, I know when I've just been subjected to a horrific film! It was poorly written, not funny, and made absolutely no sense. How Do You Know? If you ignore the negative reviews, as I foolishly did, You Will Know! How the director and actors did not know is the bigger question. Now you know! Skip this one.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/31/23

Full Review

Rob A

It looks like I'm in the minority here, but that doesn't make me wrong. A gorgeous, in-her-prime Reese Witherspoon has to choose between MLB pitcher Owen Wilson and an executive wrongly accused of a crime by the Justice Dept. (Paul Rudd). Both men are good guys, and both have fallen hard. Rudd literally drools. Who will she choose?? Fun work by superstar Jack Nicholson as Rudd's loving but corrupt Dad.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/23

Full Review

Eric R

A slam dunk cast trudging through a boring back and forth script. Funny enough at times but really nothing super memorable.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/16/23

Full Review

Robert W

No...just no. Great cast but no story or directing.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/23

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

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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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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

Full Review

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Rated: 3/4

Jan 26, 2012

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

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
Executive Producer: John D. Schofield, Richard Sakai
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
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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