How Do You Know

Released: 2010
Comedy, Romance
Director: James L. Brooks
Starring: Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson
Rated:  R
Running Time: 121 minutes


The breakdown: A woman is trying to learn what she wants out of life and is caught between two men who she finds attractive.


Reese Witherspoon plays a woman who has always loved baseball, or, I guess it's softball for women.  Anyway, she's been on the US softball team and won medals (I assume during the Olympics?) so she's really good and all about that.  Early in the movie, she gets cut because she's getting older and she feels a bit lost.  She starts dating Owen Wilson, who is also a major league baseball player and they kinda' have an open ended relationship.  He likes to womanize so he's not really ready to settle down.  Meanwhile, Paul Rudd plays a man who is under federal investigation from working for his father's company.  Rudd is an honest stand up guy who is a bit awkward around women, but his heart's in the right place.
Well, Rudd and Witherspoon go on a blind date and he ends up really liking her right from the start.  She kind of sees him as a good man and a good friend, since she's sort of with Wilson.
Over the course of the movie, the triangle develops a bit more and there are some very sweet and touching scenes.

Overall, I thought this movie was going to be bad and bland, as the ratings for it were pretty low, but I ended up being charmed by it.  There are two very cute relationships in the movie that I really enjoyed.  The only complaint I have against is is that Reese Witherspoon is one dimensional and does not have a very broad range.  She usually plays the same character, no matter what movie (except for Walk the Line which she was very good in.)  This one is no different....She's a bit lost and clueless, but she means well.  If you can overlook Witherspoon's one dimensionality, you will most likely enjoy this film.

I give it a 3 and 3/4 out of 5 for some great cute scenes and a very touching marriage proposal amid lesser characters.  See it.