How Do You Know? (2010)
Summary
Genre: Comedy, RomanceGoodies:
+ Good acting (Paul Rudd never disappoints), + Likable characters, + SappyBaddies:
- Has some "prepackaged film" issues, - SappyAfter being cut from the USA 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.
There are a lot of run-of-the-mill romantic comedies out there, and this one isn’t really outside of the realm of those prepackaged films, but I liked the film. I put on this film because I was setting up my Boxee server and just needed to test something, and then kept the film on. There is a give and take here because I love Paul Rudd but I hate Owen Wilson. Despite my distaste for Wilson, he wasn’t half bad in this film, and I have always liked both Reese Witherspoon and Jack Nicholson. I go through all these actors because I think that is really what set this film apart. Witherspoon played the role of a very strong woman in a rough patch and Rudd as a gullible yet charming guy who falls for her. Nicholson plays the compulsive lying and selfish father who means well, but never does well, and Wilson plays the completely idiotic player (which is probably why I could stand him because he played who I view him as, haha). Anyways, these character setups are what make the story between Rudd and Witherspoon so sweet. The movie is very sappy and standard as romantic movies go, but if that is a genre of film you like, this one stands out. There isn’t a whole lot more to say, but the film really explores trying to find oneself despite what life throws at you and trying to move on from situations that are unhealthy or out of your control. Overall, cute and sappy movie that stands out from movies in the same genre.
