How Do You Know (2010)

How do you know when a movie is so unnaturally average you can’t tell if you like it or if you don’t? Because that is what this movie is. This film is the pinnacle of just perfectly average filmmaking. On a comparison of the romantic comedy genre, the film is better than films like Leap Year or Something Borrowed, but is decently worse than some pretty great romantic comedies in recent memory, films like Definitely, Maybe and The Wedding Singer. So in the end, the film just clocks in at perfectly average. That’s the only way I can describe this film. The film follows four characters going through life at difficult and trying times, starting with Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) getting fired from a women’s softball team, and having issues with her cocky, arrogant, stupid, and free-spirited boyfriend (Owen Wilson, playing the same role he did in the Meet the Parents franchise). This man is so dumb and annoying; I wanted to light him on fire. And remember this-I like Owen Wilson. This is easily the worst character in the entire film, and the least funny. But I need to continue with the synopsis. Also, (extremely awkwardly, might I add) the film adds George (Paul Rudd), whose business is being accused of fraud. His problems all assume from his father (Jack Nicholson, who beautifully throws out two f-bombs [the max for PG-13 movies] in one sentence, which is kind of awesome). George gets set up with Lisa over a big misunderstanding, and they continue to leave and meet up constantly over little things (the typical romantic comedy situations). What follows is just your typical romantic comedy; you know what’s going to happen. The film doesn’t do anything new, but there are actually a few moments where I laughed hard. But honestly, the film is just your completely average romantic comedy. And that really isn’t a bad thing.
6/10