How Do You Know
James L. Brooks
The story: National softball player Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) is dating self-absorbed major league baseball jock Matty (Owen Wilson) when George (Paul Rudd), who is the target of a corporate criminal investigation, comes along, forming a love triangle.
The love triangle is the most basic of romantic comedy set-ups. In this case, nice girl hooks up with party guy and then meets nice guy. Cue romantic conundrum.
Despite the cliched set-up, it is clear that writer-director-producer James L. Brooks is going for a more honest exploration of what happens when people meet and then gradually, and unexpectedly, fall in love.
The first time Lisa and George go on a date, she makes it clear that she is attached and interested in only being friends. Even as her attraction to him grows, Lisa holds on to that assertion.
And yet, despite straining for something different, the film gets pulled back to more conventional territory with the character of Matty.
He is a player who sleeps around and his casual chauvinism is played for laughs. Anyone can see he is not the right guy for Lisa.
It is also a pity that the writing is lacklustre, a disappointment given Brooks’ vast experience in television and film classics such as The Simpsons and Broadcast News (1987). Except for a moment of great comic timing in a hospital ward scene late in the film, the repartee lacks zing and zip.
Half the time, the script calls for Reese Witherspoon to frown and look puzzled and it is the hugely affable Paul Rudd instead who gives the more winning turn as the vulnerable George.
He can even take a lame line such as “You gave me temporary amnesia” and kind of make it work.
Among the supporting cast, Owen Wilson brings laidback charm to the table and Kathryn Hahn steals some attention as George’s high-strung secretary Annie. The blustery Jack Nicholson, as George’s wily father and boss, almost seems to be in a different movie and the criminal investigation side plot feels tacked on.
Caught in two minds, How Do You Know winds up feeling like a watered- down romantic comedy.
(ST)