How Do You Know | Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

      View All
      Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      How Do You Know

      2010, Romance/Comedy, 2h 1m

      150 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      How Do You Know boasts a quartet of likeable leads -- and they deserve better than this glib, overlong misfire from writer/director James L. Brooks. Read critic reviews

      You might also like

      See More
      All About Steve
      Larry Crowne
      Crazy, Stupid, Love.
      The Back-up Plan
      He's Just Not That Into You

      Where to watch How Do You Know

      Rent/buy Rent/buy Rent/buy

      Rent How Do You Know on Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or buy it on Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home.

      Rate And Review

      User image

      Verified

      • User image

        Super Reviewer

        Rate this movie

        Oof, that was Rotten.

        Meh, it passed the time.

        It’s good – I’d recommend it.

        Awesome!

        So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

        What did you think of the movie? (optional)



      • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

      • User image

        Super Reviewer

        Step 2 of 2

        How did you buy your ticket?

        Let's get your review verified.

        • Fandango

        • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

        • Cinemark Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Regal Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Theater box office or somewhere else

        You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

      • User image

        Super Reviewer

        Rate this movie

        Oof, that was Rotten.

        Meh, it passed the time.

        It’s good – I’d recommend it.

        Awesome!

        So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

        What did you think of the movie? (optional)

      • How did you buy your ticket?

        • Fandango

        • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

        • Cinemark Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Regal Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Theater box office or somewhere else

      How Do You Know  Photos

      How Do You Know (2010) How Do You Know (2010)

      Movie Info

      Lisa Jorgenson's (Reese Witherspoon) entire life has been defined by softball, but at 31, she is deemed too old to play and cut from the team. After being cast adrift, she begins a fling with Matty (Owen Wilson), a charming womanizer who plays professional baseball. About the same time, she goes on a blind date with George (Paul Rudd), a businessman on the hook for stock fraud. Caught in a romantic triangle with the two men, Lisa ponders the meaning of love.

      • Rating: PG-13 (Some Strong Language|Sexual Content)

      • Genre: Romance, Comedy

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: James L. Brooks

      • Producer: James L. Brooks, Paula Weinstein, Laurence Mark, Julie Ansell

      • Writer: James L. Brooks

      • Release Date (Theaters):  wide

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $30.2M

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Sony Pictures

      • Production Co: Gracie Films

      • Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

      Cast & Crew

      News & Interviews for How Do You Know

      Critic Reviews for How Do You Know

      Audience Reviews for How Do You Know

      • Aug 23, 2015

        It was cute except it was not funny at all... How do you know had excellent chemistry between Witherspoon and Rudd but script was it was disastrous and the running time way too long for a pleasant viewing.

        Super Reviewer
      • Jun 10, 2012

        Rom com with a good cast. Lisa finds herself without a job, moves in with her boyfriend then realises she is attracted someone else.

        Super Reviewer
      • Apr 11, 2012

        While waiting for news on whether or not she makes the national softball team(she doesn't), Lisa(Reese Witherspoon) is so distracted by her cell phone ringing that she is hit by a softball in the face but is okay. It turns out that the phone call is only her friend and teammate Riva(Teyonah Parris) trying to set her up with a non-athlete for a change. In any case, neither her nor her intended date, George(Paul Rudd), are available, as Lisa is sorta/maybe dating Matty(Owen Wilson), a pitcher for the Washington Nationals. George's status suddenly changes all around when his girlfriend Terry(Shelley Conn) dumps him when he is investigated for securities fraud. On the other hand, George's father(Jack Nicholson) stands firmly behind him. So, how do you know you are watching a mediocre romantic comedy? Well, the 120 minute running time is not a good sign, but it is not necessarily a critical flaw, as it matters what you do with the time. Here, it is nothing good, as the movie just goes around in circles for the most part, with only a couple of truly memorable moments. The first of which revolves around the phrase, "I can't even smile for the bastards, anymore." Underneath this mess is a good movie waiting to get out about two young people at a crossroads in their lives. And even then, the leads are extraordinarily bland. But, bless him, Jack Nicholson still has it. On the plus side, there is a fine use of mass transit which accounts for the second memorable moment.

        walter m Super Reviewer
      • Feb 06, 2012

        Bunch of good actors, plus Owen Wilson, go through the motions of James L. Brooks' latest comedy with few and far between memorable moments. Brooks' best work is about twenty years old and this feels like it is trapped in that time period with little understanding of where comedy has evolved today.

        Super Reviewer

      Movie & TV guides

      View All