How Do You Know

Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy

Synopsis: A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson, a corporate executive, and a major-league… A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson, a corporate executive, and a major-league pitcher.

Synopsis: A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson, a corporate executive, and a major-league… A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson, a corporate executive, and a major-league pitcher.

How Do You Know is funny, well-written, well-performed romantic comedy that deserves a good matinee viewing. The script was extremely well-written, which is very rare for a romantic comedy. Most of the time, the characters are shoving clichés in your face or they are repeating the same exact lines we have heard a million times over. At least with this film, writer/director James L. Brooks brought fresh dialogue to the table which made it very enjoyable. To be honest, there’s nothing special about the film but if you are looking for a good laugh and a sweet flick, this is your movie for the weekend.

The flick stars Paul Rudd (Knocked Up, Role Models), Owen Wilson (Bottle Rocket, Marley and Me), Jack Nicholson (The Shining, Chinatown), Reese Witherspoon (Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde) and Katheryn Hahn (Step Brothers, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy).

For a romantic-comedy, there is a lot going on in this film but I am going to keep it short and sweet. Meet Lisa (Witherspoon), a professional softball player who has pretty much played the sport her entire life. She meets Manny (Wilson), a professional baseball player for the Washington Nationals. Though, she always finds herself dating sports guys. Enter George (Rudd), a business man who has just received some terrible news. His father (Nicholson) is now in a lot of trouble with the Government and his son George is taking all of the blame. George takes Lisa on a very funny blind-date right as they are at the lowest points in their lives. Lisa has just been cut from her soft-ball team and George is facing jail time for something he did not do. Lisa continues to see Manny but she obviously has interest in George. Luckily, they both have each other when they are going through these terrible transitions in their lives.

The movie feels very real. The relationships we are seeing on screen feel authentic and I just loved the chemistry. Reese Witherspoon is infectious and had to develop chemistry with both of these guys. Paul Rudd gives the performance of his career in the film and that is a testament to how great James L. Brooks is. Brooks, who actually discovered Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson and Wes Anderson, has that magic in his writing and directing.

One thing that really struck me about this film was James L. Brooks’ use of the close-ups. He is able to capture these characters at their most vulnerable moments. There is a great scene where Reese Witherspoon is brushing her teeth in her bathroom after she has been cut from the softball team. She starts to brush her teeth and then slowly breaks down and starts crying. The camera is literally right in her face and it works beautifully. A lot of the characters in this film experience that close-up and made the film appear to be more genuine.

Highly recommend to watch this movie. It is now playing at the 5 Drive-In Theatre (Friday to Sunday Plus Tuesdays)