How Do You Know

Awkward Moments May Become Tranquil
How Do You Know, PG-13, **1/2, Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson. Columbia Pictures film. Director James L. Brooks. Length: 116 minutes.

Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) plays on a professional softball team. At least she did. Apparently she is a good player, and her team mates like her. The players for the next season are about to be posted. Will she make the cut or not? Unfortunately, she did not make the team, or maybe it is fortunate. She will just have to adjust to the situation and move on with her life.
George (Paul Rudd) is a successful business man. At least that is what he believes. His father Charles (Jack Nicholson) is the owner of the business.
George has some issues because of some bad news within the business. He avoids facing the reality of what is going on with his problems. This all happens as a result of the troubles occurring in the business run by his father Charles. As things fall apart at work, George begins to withdraw from reality.
His girlfriend leaves him, and it appears his whole world is crumbling.
George has a date with Lisa, and everything is basically a disaster. Lisa is dating, Matty (Owen Wilson), a successful major league pitcher. Matty is a ladies man with a selfish attitude.
This gives the reader a brief synopsis of the premise of this romantic comedy. I found myself lacking the ability to connect with the movie at times. Other scenes became realistic and funny, but not many of them.
George with all of his insecurities is an extremely nice guy. Whereas, Matty is basically a jerk with selfish motives and a cocky attitude, and George’s father is also a self-centered egotistical individual.
With Lisa and George working through some very tough times and trying to decide what to do about their dating life, the plot moves at a slow pace. It leaves the audience lacking true engagement to these characters.
Much of the dialogue is lame and juvenile. It just does not make a strong connection with the audience. However, some of the verbal exchange is realistic. Such as, not knowing what to say or saying the wrong thing at the inappropriate time.
Now to be honest, I did laugh out loud several times. When Lisa and George discuss their relationships, the conversation at times is realistic. George is a nice guy trying to win the heart of someone he likes very much.
He is just being himself, and he has an uncanny bad habit of placing his foot deeply within his mouth. Talking too much can be the wrong thing to do at particular moments in a conversation. Sometimes total silence becomes the most interesting way to connect with the opposite sex. This is especially true if one is complaining about his personal problems.
I cannot recommend this movie with any enthusiasm. Two of the characters are too boring and selfish. The other two main characters are interesting, but without a lot of good judgment.
Unfortunately, it is the kind of movie that allows the lame parts to stick with the viewer while the better moments fade away like a bad scene in a mediocre film.