How Do You Know

Movie: How Do You Know

Cast:    Reese Witherspoon (Lisa)

            Paul Rudd (George)

            Owen Wilson (Matty)

            Jack Nicholson (Charles -  George’s father)

            Kathryn Hahn (Annie)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

I saw it on: December 18, 2010

Synopsis: Lisa is a professional softball player facing a career crisis.  George is an honest businessman facing a federal investigation due to actions by his overbearing father.  He is also recently made unattached by his former girlfriend.  Matty is a major league pitcher who is infatuated with Lisa.  He brings new meaning to the word “shallow”, but thinks he is showing great growth as a person.  Lisa and Matty’s relationship is not exactly on concrete footing.  George falls in love with Lisa, but naturally doesn’t feel he can actually tell her, since she is in a relationship.  Annie is George’s former secretary who is trying to give him inside information on the investigation – but he is too honest to let her.

The movie follows Lisa as she tries to figure out what she wants; George as he tries to figure out what to do about Lisa and what to do about his father and the federal investigation; Jack as he tries to repair his relationship with his son; and Matty as he – at least in his mind – tries to become a better person.

My two cents: First of all, I went into this movie prejudiced: I am a sucker for romantic comedies, I love anything with Reese Witherspoon and I am a big fan of Paul Rudd.  I loved this movie.  Paul Rudd did a great job of portraying the conflicted businessman who was just too decent to believe. Reese Witherspoon was as cute and spunky as ever – while making her character believable.  Owen Wilson has the role of the shallow womanizer who has not clue nailed down. 

The one who I thought stole the movie was Jack Nicholson as Charles.  His character was an over-the-top CEO with a type A personality. He conflict throughout the movie was his conflicting inclinations to either through his son to the (federal) wolves to save his own skin – or to give in to his paternal instincts and rescue his son.  What made it so funny was his consciousness of the conflict and his willingness to discuss them with his son.. I thought the funniest scenes in the movie were of Charles trying to use non-profane language in front of the Annie - a losing battle, but one that he continues to fight.

To those who argue that George was just too nice and the movie is too sappy, I say – so what?  I suggest you sit back, loosen up and just let yourself enjoy 2 hours of a pleasantly funny movie that will leave you with a good feeling.