How Do You Know

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How Do You Know

PG-13,

2010,

2h 1m,

Romance/

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

32%

149 Reviews

Tomatometer

25%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

32%

Tomatometer

149 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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Albus M

Apr 18, 2019

All A Bit Too Random Really, With A Story (By Simpsons Producer J.L. Brooks) That Dances Around "Lisa" (Witherspoon) As She Explores Peoples Lives She Is Randomly Dragged Into. The Film Flops Tho Because The Script Just Doesn't Get Any Rhythm Going. Kinda Like An Orchestra With No Harmony, The Well-Known Actors Generally Play Their Parts Well, But Bringing It All Together Just Doesn't Seem To Gell.

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Draco G

Apr 3, 2019

Silly unlikable characters. The most likeable seems to be Jack Nicholson, who plays a minor role. There is no real struggle going on and no actual decisions seem to be made. A waste! Could have been easily made into a fun romantic comedy with a couple changes.

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Albus S

Feb 3, 2019

Wow, this movie was painful to watch. Horrible storyline. No onscreen chemistry between any of the romantic partners. Horrible message to young women/girls (the way Reese responds to Luke's characters and infidelity). I can't believe I wasted time on this - was truly terrible.

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Jan 14, 2019

Amazing movie, I really enjoyed it!

Poe S

Nov 6, 2018

No backstory at all to these characters. Reese and Owen Wilson's characters are not likeable at all.

Harry W

Jul 29, 2018

A bit dry. But I love Reese in this one too.

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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!

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

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

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How Do You Know: Official Clip - Temporary Amnesia

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

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

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

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

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How Do You Know: Official Clip - Awkward Date

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How Do You Know: Official Clip - Sexy Clapping

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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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