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IMDbPro

How Do You Know

  • 2010
  • PG-13
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
57K
YOUR RATING
Jack Nicholson, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, and Paul Rudd in How Do You Know (2010)
Feeling a bit past her prime at 27, former athlete Lisa Jorgenson (Witherspoon) finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis (Rudd) competes with Lisa's current, baseball-playing beau (Wilson).
Play trailer2:53
7 Videos
97 Photos
Romantic ComedyComedyDramaRomance

After being cut from the U.S.A. softball team and feeling a bit past her prime, Lisa finds herself evaluating her life and in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis comp... Read allAfter being cut from the U.S.A. softball team and feeling a bit past her prime, Lisa finds herself evaluating her life and in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis competes with her current, baseball-playing beau.After being cut from the U.S.A. softball team and feeling a bit past her prime, Lisa finds herself evaluating her life and in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis competes with her current, baseball-playing beau.

  • Director
    • James L. Brooks
  • Writer
    • James L. Brooks
  • Stars
    • Reese Witherspoon
    • Paul Rudd
    • Owen Wilson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    57K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James L. Brooks
    • Writer
      • James L. Brooks
    • Stars
      • Reese Witherspoon
      • Paul Rudd
      • Owen Wilson
    • 374User reviews
    • 155Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos7

    How Do You Know
    Trailer 2:53
    How Do You Know
    How Do You Know: See Your Place
    Clip 1:01
    How Do You Know: See Your Place
    How Do You Know: See Your Place
    Clip 1:01
    How Do You Know: See Your Place
    How Do You Know: Meet At Restaurant
    Clip 1:54
    How Do You Know: Meet At Restaurant
    How Do You Know: Run From Bad News
    Clip 0:52
    How Do You Know: Run From Bad News
    How Do You Know: Do Not Rock The Boat Extended
    Clip 1:08
    How Do You Know: Do Not Rock The Boat Extended
    How Do You Know
    Promo 0:32
    How Do You Know

    Photos97

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    + 91
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Reese Witherspoon
    Reese Witherspoon
    • Lisa
    Paul Rudd
    Paul Rudd
    • George
    Owen Wilson
    Owen Wilson
    • Matty
    Jack Nicholson
    Jack Nicholson
    • Charles
    Kathryn Hahn
    Kathryn Hahn
    • Annie
    Mark Linn-Baker
    Mark Linn-Baker
    • Ron
    Lenny Venito
    Lenny Venito
    • Al
    Molly Price
    Molly Price
    • Coach Sally
    Ron McLarty
    Ron McLarty
    • George's Lawyer
    Shelley Conn
    Shelley Conn
    • Terry
    Domenick Lombardozzi
    Domenick Lombardozzi
    • Bullpen Pitcher
    John Tormey
    John Tormey
    • Doorman
    Teyonah Parris
    Teyonah Parris
    • Riva
    Tony Shalhoub
    Tony Shalhoub
    • Psychiatrist
    Dean Norris
    Dean Norris
    • Softball Coach
    Donna Dundon
    • Annie's Mom
    Cyrus Newitt
    Cyrus Newitt
    • Annie's Dad
    Will Blagrove
    Will Blagrove
    • Matty's Teammate
    • Director
      • James L. Brooks
    • Writer
      • James L. Brooks
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews374

    5.456.6K
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    Featured reviews

    7Johnny-113

    Very good and not appreciated enough

    I was expecting to be very disappointed with this film because I'd heard that most people disliked it. I really really liked it. I think that audiences these days have to have a joke every 30 seconds to be entertained. Maybe audiences feel short changed if there isn't a huge obvious wrap up off the plot at the end of the film. I liked that everything wasn't black and white in the film. There are many unanswered questions. The characters' intentions and feelings weren't absolutely clear. That's what I loved about it.

    It's sad that so many people disliked this film, but I think it's very courageous of James l. Brooks to write a film that pleased him and not have to pace it like most other "successful" Hollywood crap movies. This film makes you think unlike many other huge hit comedies these days.
    6bvallred

    Not as bad as they're saying.

    Okay, so call me crazy, but I would NEVER give a movie a one star rating unless it was absolutely miserable. Like if I would rather leave the theater and the $10 I spent on it than watch it. How Do You Know was not a one star movie. The only problems I saw with it were that it was a little long. I thought they could have cut some scenes out and not only gotten away with it, but made it a more enjoyable experience. Also, with actors like Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson (plus how it was advertised as a comedy) I was expecting to do a lot more laughing in the movie than I really did. Don't get me wrong, it was funny, but not as much as you'd expect. I think if you go to this movie knowing it's more of a romantic comedy than a typical Owen Wilson/Paul Rudd style comedy then you'll be pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the movie, I thought it was very clever and surprisingly uplifting and I thought it was definitely worth the money.
    5cardsrock

    A baffling waste of talent

    This film has an all-star cast... and not much else. The story meanders around and never really goes anywhere interesting. This was particularly disappointing coming from the writer/director behind As Good as It Gets, one of the best romantic comedies of the past few decades. This film cost a shocking $120 million and made very little at the box office, hence becoming one of the biggest bombs of all time. I only checked it out because it was getting popular on Netflix, I somewhat regret my decision. Just as Jack Nicholson likely regrets having this, as of 2020, be his final film.
    7sunam007

    Don't allow the ratings fool You. It's a Good Vibe Movie.

    It was winter and i was alone home. I was anticipating there will be no wifi for a couple of days so i had some movies downloaded on my Netflix. Seeing Owen wilson and Paul Rudd on the cast, i thought this movie would be Rom Com. But as i start watching, i found out it's a Romantic Drama with lots of life lessons. I am lucky there was no Internet connection on that afternoon. It's a movie i am gonna suggest to everyone who is having a bad day. I am gonna watch it again.
    tapavko

    Nice and unusual for big Hollywood movie

    I can't believe the low rating of this movie. I guess it's because it does not give you usual polished Hollywood story of romance: boy meets girl, girl has a boyfriend/fiancé who at first seems perfect but then turns out to be douche bag and/or evil and there steps in this new perfect guy, they kiss and live happily ever after, the end.

    Here, both guys trying to get the girl are screwed up in some way or another. Boyfriend (Owen Wilson) is not a bad guy. He is not too sensitive, he sleeps around, but the point is he doesn't try to hide it. He is honest about himself. And throughout the relationship he tries to better himself and the relationship with his girlfriend (Reese Witherspoon). On the other hand the "new guy" (Paul Rudd) is depressed, has no job or money and is facing prison time. And at the beginning the girl he's chasing considers him weird. His slime-ball/businessman father (Jack Nicholson) I think just adds likability to Rudds character.

    Also, what I like is there is no perfect ending. There is sort of a feel-good ending but it's not perfect. Although, for that you'll have to see the movie.

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    Related interests

    Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
    Romantic Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of the lesser known "big box-office bombs of all time"; the budget spiraled up to $120 million due to high salary demands of its principal cast and director (around $50 million), a lengthy production, as well as a costly re-shoot for the beginning and the ending. Coupled with marketing costs, the movie lost an estimated $105 million.
    • Goofs
      When he is typing an 'email' to his dad explaining why he needs to think about what he has just heard, he is actually using Word 2010, and although has typed about 20 words, the word count is stuck at 0 (bottom left)
    • Quotes

      Lisa: Never drink to feel better; only drink to feel even better.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.58 (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      What Is It This Time?
      Written by Jamie Lidell (as Jamie Lidderdale) and Mocky (as Dominic Salole)

      Performed by Jamie Lidell

      Courtesy of Warp Records

      By Arrangement with Zync Music

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    FAQ19

    • How long is How Do You Know?Powered by Alexa
    • What does the title mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 17, 2010 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Pictures
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • ¿Cómo saber si es amor?
    • Filming locations
      • DuPont Circle, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Gracie Films
      • Road Rebel
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $120,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $30,212,620
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,484,696
      • Dec 19, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $48,668,907
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 1m(121 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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