DVD Reviews

How Do You Know – DVD Review

By June L. Mar 31, 2011, 14:51 GMT

AFTER 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. ...more

James L. Brooks casts Reese Witherspoon as USA softball team member Lisa who in a short space of time has lost her place on the team, decided to start a romance with longtime friend Matty (Owen Wilson) and has had a blind date with George (Paul Rudd) a very nice guy who has some very serious business problems including his Dad (Jack Nicholson). The result is chaotic, funny, touching and above all full of hope.

This fun and unusual life comedy is good story with some great lines for all of the characters. Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) is plucky, sincere, good natured, and hopeful about life, even when it throws her the curve ball of not making the team.

Her friend turned boyfriend, major league baseball player Matty (Owen Wilson) is a good guy, self-absorbed, and loves the ladies, but he tries to the best of his ability to make things work in his relationship with Lisa, once he asks the question how do you know if you are in love.

George (Paul Rudd) meets Lisa just as his business has gone to pieces and put him in trouble with the law, and his father (Jack Nicholson) won’t accept any of the blame, and his fiancé says she thinks they need time apart so that she won’t be accused of any of his wrongdoings.

George finds Lisa attractive, not only for her looks, but her indomitable spirit, but they have trouble getting their lives aligned so they can explore the possibilities of a relationship. Kathryn Hahn as George’s devoted secretary Annie turns in a golden performance every time she appears in the film.

Very pregnant and trying to work relationship problems of her own, she remains loyal to George both as her employer and friend. Jack Nicholson as Charles, George’s dad, is a combination of slick businessman and manipulative parent.

George loves his dad, but the audience isn’t sure of what Charles feels for his son, other than seeing him as the scapegoat for the good of the company. Does Charles really care, and how do you know?

General criticism of the film was not good, but it seems critics may have missed the point, or several points. The film is about relationships, all kinds of relationships, not just the romantic, but friendships, business relationships, team work, and parent/child interactions.

It is hard to categorize the film, and unfortunately it seems it was pegged as a romantic comedy rather than a comic film about people influencing other people’s lives.

How Do You Know DVD is presented on single disc with a running time of 121 minutes. Along with the feature film are included some interesting specials. Deleted Scenes and a Blooper Reel show more of the characters in action. “Extra Innings” is a making of featurette, featuring cast members and crew as well as director James L. Brooks.

It is fun and likeable, the characters a refreshing change from “yuck” comedy or the same old tired goofball romances. This story has the elements of real life throwing people off course, and what they do with that and the succession of events due to their choices, in a comic rather than a tragic setting.

It is hopeful, and a nice escape from explosions and tears. It tells several stories in the way that life is never just about one person’s drama or comedy.