How Do You Know

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How Do You Know

PG-13

2010

2h 1m

Romance

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

32%

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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

Apr 3, 2019

1/5

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.

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Bill Goodykoontz

Arizona Republic

Aug 12, 2011

3/5

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.

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Philip French

Guardian

Jan 31, 2011

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.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Dec 17, 2025

3.5/5

Fifteen years later, How Do You Know still isn’t perfect, but it’s far more charming and thoughtful than its early reputation suggests.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Aug 3, 2023

2/4

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.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 11, 2020

2.5/4.0

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

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Lisa C

@lisacarreno Sep 11, 2026

Some cute moments but the dialog is slow and shallow.

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Jamie S

@RT74407131 Jul 11, 2026

It’s just sweet and heartwarming. If you are into a good "yearning movie, this is for you. It is a satisfying slow burn. If you need action or a fast paced dialogue, move on. But I loved it

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Bob J

@RT50171499 Jul 5, 2026

Good cast, really sloppy script. The very start and the end of the movie are pretty much the only good parts of the movie. The middle section is a whole bunch of mumbo jumbo that feels pretty much random and the character development is pretty weak. It's not horrible, but its not good either. Also its not even a comedy.

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Diana H

@Mercedy May 29, 2026

Alfred Hitchcock said once: "Movies are life with the boring parts cut out." James L Brooks likes the boring parts. All of his movies leave them in. His best movies, As Good As It Gets, and Terms Of Endearment, are saved by the performances. Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd cannot save this snail's-pace snoozer. Great to see Jack Nicholson, and although Owen Wilson always rubs me the wrong way, when he and Nicholson are chewing the scenery, the movie comes to life. Clever lines and endless navel gazing by Witherspoon and Rudd do not create tension or suspense. Witherspoon is given some nasty dialogue that Diane Keaton could deliver, and you'd still like the character. Not so with Reese, although she is normally charming. The moral dilemma between Rudd and Nicholson is the only part of the entire movie worth your time. I forced myself to watch to the end, fast forwarding some, but not missing a thing. Sometimes a recipe falls apart even when you have all the right ingredients.

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Michael M.

@RT25873090 May 26, 2026

Overall good movie. Very 2010. Not quite touching enough for a tear jerker

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Aysel S

@RT00374719 Mar 20, 2026

It's a charming, innocent, warm little rom-com with all main characters being really like-able! It leaves you with a smile on your face and in a good mood.

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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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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: Paula Weinstein, Laurence Mark, Julie Ansell
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Production Co: Gracie Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Strong Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
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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