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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

    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.
    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.
    4ctinsureme-96940

    Why isn't this good??

    It's almost unfathomable that this movie stinks...but it does, sadly. Confused characters bumbling through scenes, awful development of backstory, no chemistry, hardly any laughs and just a mishmash of WTF-ery :(
    7xcharxcharx

    Underrated

    From looking at the casting, you would immediately think this to be a romantic comedy, and I guess that's where it starts going wrong.. from people going in to see this movie, expecting a chick flick and being disappointed.

    I believe the reason for the poor reviews of this movie are due to the fact that is has been advertised and delivered as a romantic comedy.

    True, it is fit for the romance genre, comedy.. not so much. But as far as romantic drama's go, this is an excellent picture for the modernized crowd.

    That's because it is so much more. It is ideal for viewing of a well- intended inspiring somewhat-romantic movie. Humour is few and far between for a comedy-seeking crowd, however for those who connect to the characters, the humour is purely intended for those devised from caring for the characters.

    Reese Witherspoon has perfected the role of Lisa, this is the movie that I would beg girlfriends to watch, due to her total delivery of the character throughout the entire picture, which is something most girls and women can relate to (whether they've reached that hurdle yet or not).

    Which is where I feel the script originated from, life lessons. The script of the movie is all relatable in one aspect or other. It's moving to view a capture of these 'life lessons' within a movie, and I think if a movie can deliver that, then they have succeeded in making a good movie. Although the writing could have been sharper, better presented and wittier, it was decent enough for one to be indulged in the plot.

    Paul Rudd, I thought, was a fantastic casting. Again, writing could of been better for a few of his lines where comedy was intended and some of his reactions.. but still I found him to be excellent and I enjoyed watching him.

    Nice to see Jack Nicholson again, (huge fan of One flew over the cuckoo's nest!), his part was suitable if not a little long winded. I felt (again) wittier writing would have improved his character and performance hugely, however he delivered his part.

    And Luke Wilson.. okay so we all know what kind of movie's he's known for now, and fair enough, he was a good casting for the part. My only itch is I'd like to see him doing more roles similar to Hutch, ala Starsky&, dry detective types.

    Moving on, as said above, this is not a movie to make you lol or rofl, merely a movie to be enjoyed from watching these character's journey of self-revelation's throughout.
    4melinetto

    i'm sorry but it's really bad

    It has great cast but unfortunately, there's one very weak script. It's an example for having such a great cast as this one but unfortunately, it was misused.

    By the way, that's a fine work by Janusz Kaminski the cinematographer.

    Best Emmys Moments

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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
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    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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