Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

How Do You Know

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for sexual content and some strong language.

Reviewed by: Scott Brennan
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Romance Comedy Drama
Length: 1 hr. 56 min.
Year of Release: 2010
USA Release: December 17, 2010 (wide—2,500+ theaters)
DVD: March 22, 2011
Copyright, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Picturesclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures
Relevant Issues
Copyright, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures

TRUE LOVE—What is true love and how do you know when you have found it? Answer

Should I save sex for marriage? Answer

How can I deal with temptations? Answer

Copyright, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures

How far is too far? What are the guidelines for dating relationships? Answer

fornication

What are the consequences of sexual immorality? Answer

Sex, Love & Relationships
Learn how to make your love the best it can be. Discover biblical answers to questions about sex, marriage, sexual addictions, and more.
Copyright, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures

drunkenness in the Bible

Copyright, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures

lying and truth in the Bible


Every time you buy a movie ticket or rent a video you are casting a vote telling Hollywood “That’s what I want.” Why does Hollywood continue to promote immoral programming? Are YOU part of the problem? Answer

Featuring Reese Witherspoon (Lisa Jorgenson), Jack Nicholson (Charles), Paul Rudd (George), Owen Wilson (Matty/Manny), Andrew Wilson (Relief Pitcher #1), See all »
Director James L. Brooks
Producer Columbia Pictures Corporation, Gracie Films, Road Rebel, See all »
Distributor
Distributor: Columbia Pictures. Trademark logo.
Columbia Pictures
, a division of Sony Pictures

“She’s in limbo. He’s in love. He’s in trouble. He’s in denial.”

Question: “How Do You Know” when you’ve seen a bad movie?
Answer: You just know. It wasn’t just the nearly empty theater on opening weekend or the lack of audience laughs at all the cutesy lines one comes to expect during this genre of a romantic-comedy-love-triangle. Sadly, this movie just didn’t work. I say sadly, because I expected more from James L. Brooks with “Terms of Endearment,” “As Good As It Gets,” and “Broadcast News” on his past docket.

Unfortunately, this movie doesn’t even reach the pinnacle of a Hallmark or Lifetime film. It is more like the television premiere of a new sitcom. Maybe it was the decades of television writing and directing that overpowered him (and many beloved shows I might add), but not even this Hollywood-big-league-cast (with an extended cameo from Jack Nicholson) can redeem these flat characters or this faltering script. The movie feels dated, contrived, forced and awkward—on so many levels. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few moments, especially near the climax—when real feelings start to surface—but, by then, it is too late.

The final scene with the city buses pulling up to the bus stop at regular intervals—reminds me of the surrealism in the 1991 Albert Brooks movie “Defending Your Life,” where the buses are “heavenly” transports. The only problem is, in this film they are supposed to be “on earth”—a fact which seems to escape James Brooks for the entire film. The movie really does feel like a “back lot set” the entire time. Even though I never actually saw one—I had the perception that a boom microphone was hanging visibly in every other shot, and I fully expected to hear someone yell “cut” at any moment. If only they had.

The storyline

Reese Witherspoon plays a perky professional softball champion named Lisa, who is surprisingly cut from her U.S. team at the age of 31, because she was 0.7 seconds too slow when running to first base. Devastated by this sudden life change, she tries—like a falling cat—to land on her feet, but all her positive post-it notes (taped to her bathroom mirror) aren’t going to help her this time. She attempts, at first, to find comfort in a non-committal relationship with the stud relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals named Matty (Owen Wilson), but each time she comes to bat (pun intended), she senses that something is missing.

Enter stage right, George (Paul Rudd) from “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up” and “Role Models”—[I have not seen any of those films]—who in this role plays mister-goodie-two-shoes (I’m guessing a “character departure” from the films I’ve just named above). In the beginning of the film, it appears that George has been shafted by his greedy-corporate-executive father, Charles—played unconvincingly by Jack Nicholson—meaning it is totally implausible that Charles (the way Nicholson plays him) could have reared a son that turned out so “wishy-washy” and sheepishly desirous to be truthful and honest. Talk about pasted together characters. There is absolutely no father-son chemistry here—zilch—nada. So, due to this corporate investigation and a fleet of lawyers, George, like Lisa, finds himself suddenly “cut off” from his livelihood (CEO of one of his father’s companies) as he awaits an investigation by the SEC into his alleged fraud.

During this time of “limbo” for both of them, Lisa agrees to meet George for the first time on sort of a blind date—at a local, upscale, D.C. restaurant. Instantly perceiving his current state of personal devastation, she encourages him to remain silent during dinner and refrain from retelling his calamitous misfortunes for the week. In a trance-like obedience—he does just that—savoring his meal the whole time. During that awkward hush he gets silly-goo-goo-eyed over her dry confidence. She tells him to stop looking at her like “Bambi,” which only increases his infatuation. And so the love triangle begins. Will it be Matty, the self-absorbed hunk who wants a trophy girl but fears commitment, or will it be George, the altruistic, weak-kneed (I might add shallow), love starved knight who secretly believes he can never catch a break? Ho-hum.

Content for concern

Other than the negatives I have already alluded to, in terms of script, two-dimensional characters and disjointed storyline, there are a few points that are of concern when considering this film from a Christian perspective. As to language, there is a scene early in the film where Jack Nicholson reels off three variations of the “f” word back-to-back. There is one use of “Jesus,” five “oh, G*d,” nine “Oh my G*d,” “For G*d’s sakes” (1) and one time where Jack says, “There is a God!” which is about the only truth he ever speaks in the film. There is one reference to male genitals (in slang) and several references to cat feces, using the “s” word (4) to describe them, one use of the term “chicken sh*t,” plus “damn” (4) and “hell” (4).

As to drugs and alcohol, there is a reference to the latter in an elongated scene where George uses Guinness (product placement) and mixed drinks to escape from the painful circumstances of losing his girlfriend and his job in the same week. It’s a production and meant to get laughs, complete with singing into a lampshade alone in his apartment. Not really that funny. Although Lisa is a purported non-drinker in the film, she too succumbs to the pressure and drinks one night at George’s apartment.

There is no nudity (except for female cleavage and shirtless males), but there is a scene with Wilson and Witherspoon in bed together in a morning scene (with pajamas on), and they are casually discussing the sex they had. Another time there are sounds of them having sex, followed by a shot of them immediately afterwards, under the covers, except for the bare chest of Wilson. There is a scene at a party where a guy fondles a woman’s breast from behind (on top of the dress) while they are dancing. There are a couple of references to condom use that also portray a casual attitude toward sex outside of marriage.

Summary

There is a line in the film where Matty says to Lisa, seeing that she is uncomfortable with his rowdy friends at a baseball barbecue party, “There’s some Christian Athletes inside, let’s go eat with them.” It is an odd comment, but very troubling. I guess it is Brook’s attempt to be inclusive by acknowledging the presence of Christians in professional sports, but it somehow came off like we have been relegated to the back of the bus. I long for the films where Christians are portrayed with the strength of character that truly sets them apart from the world (2 Cor. 6:17), not just slightly salty (Matt 5:13) in the other room.

“Figure out what you want and learn to ask for it,” is some advice given during this movie from one character to another and is essentially the theme of the film. We as believers need to figure out what we want from films and learn to ask for it, too. We need to speak with our wallets and stop funding movies of poor taste with our dollars. We must support Christian-themed films, and especially Christian-produced films. Ask God to lead laborers into this tremendous field of potential harvest (Matt 9:38).

Violence: Mild / Profanity: Moderate to Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Moderate to Heavy

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—I do not agree with this review, at all! This movie was fantastic! The theater was packed, everybody was laughing basically non-stop throughout the film. There is some swearing, one scene in particular comes to mind when three F-words are said. There is a brief scene where two characters discuss how great the sex they just had was. Other than that, relatively clean. Awesome movie though. One of the cutest, and funniest I’ve seen in a long time.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4
Jessica, age 18 (Canada)
Positive—This movie was GREAT! I saw it with my husband last night and we both thought it was adorable. I am a strong Christian and strict with what I watch, and, overall, it had some deep parts to it that were really thought provoking. Sure she was sleeping with a guy she was not married to but unfortunately in this society, that is how it is if you are not really living for God. There were only three curse words, the f-word and they were all by Jack Nicholas all in one scene. She did realize this guy was a jerk and never was going to change and went with the other guy who they didn’t even hint she was sexually involved with, they didn’t even kiss.

I thought it would be odd watching her struggle over these two people, but the movie was very well made and pretty clean compared to most the movies out there these days. We really liked it, and it was funny.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Samantha Taylor, age 36 (USA)
Positive—This film was refreshingly different from most romantic comedies. I actually could not accurately guesstimate the entire plot after watching the first ten minutes- a pleasant surprise! In other words, I thoroughly enjoyed it; especially the acting of Paul Rudd, who’s character was absolute fun to watch throughout every minute he was in the movie.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Josephine Gruber, age 18 (USA)
Neutral
Neutral—My wife and I went to go see this movie the night “Tron” opened up. I guess I am a really nice guy or a push over. Anyway, the movie was OK at best. It was very slow and obvious that this movie was not shot with all actors at the same time, because it was very choppy. The acting and story was ok, but not great. I would say this would be a good date movie to rent, but not to pay high dollar for at the movie theater. Peace.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 3
John Anthony, age 35 (USA)
Negative
Negative—This is an incredibly boring film. It is not worth seeing. It has a love triangle with Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd. It has subsidiary couple where the female is pregnant. It has father son relationship between Jack Nicholson and Paul Rudd. Basically, Reese Witherspoon’s character is the wrong side of 30, has no career, no qualifications, no morals, no virtue, no faith, apparently no savings, no prospects, no husband, no fiance and no child. Yet she is meant to have Wilson’s character chasing her. He is a womanizer and multi-millionaire baseball player. He is absolutely engaging, but a highly corrupt role model for any boy.

In real life, RW’s character is just a quickly forgotten one night stand for Wilson’s character. Nevertheless, she gets to choose between Wilson and Paul Rudd who is being victimized by the federal government. It is a fantasy picture for women. The idea is that you can make all the wrong choices in life and still have your pick of all the men. It sends an appalling message to young women. I would rather see full frontal married sex in a film, than the glorification of one night stands and womanizing culture that is in this film. The agreeable nature of the characters merely ensures that the poisonous message is not seen for what it is—the primrose path to Hell in this life and the next.

This is a boring film which you should keep your children well away from.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 2
Blue, age 52 (Australia)
Negative—Boring, first of all. Second, there is a lot of drinking and getting drunk in this movie. The movie is not funny. The preview was the funniest thing about the movie. Lots of God’s name in vain and swearing. The old guy swears the most—almost every scene he is in, including more than one f-word.

I watched 75 min. of it and felt terrible, and I turned it off. I should have never even started it.

I was disappointed with Reese Witherspoon in this movie. She goes to Matty’s house one night and has sex with him, and in the morning she gets upset because she finds out he does this with a lot of other females. Lisa (Reese) than comes back and says sorry for leaving and that is not the end of it. This movie has no morals. She moves in with him. … There is lots of drinking, swearing, sex—including sounds, and more immoral things. A true God believing Christian should feel guilty about watching this movie.

I give this movie a 1 out of 10. What a disappointment. I know have to find a funny, clean TV show to watch so I don’t end my night feeling terrible…
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Crystal, age 24 (USA)
Negative—This movie review is really off. This movie is laced with cussing, sex, and immoral lifestyles. …
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 1
Aron Maberry, age 26 (USA)
Negative—There is a good secondary story about a son’s willingness to be self-sacrificial for his unjust father. The father is still kinda selfish, but it’s implied that he regrets his business scandal. This is sweet, until the ending, when the audience is left hanging, and they don’t find out what happens.

The romance is too perverted to be sweet, but it’s stupid even apart from that. The original concept was good, but the story development was pathetic. The sex scene is not graphic at all; all you see is the silhouettes of people in bed (they’re in front of a window) and hear groaning, and the guy keeps saying how “AMAZING” her sex is. And these people ain’t married.

Eventually, she ends up moving in with him, which is also prominent. It’s sad that romance movies these days are based on perverted concepts that dumb down holy marriage. Christians will walk away from this movie with a bad mood.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 1½
Gabriel Mohler, age 25 (USA)
Comments from non-viewers
Negative—Very offensive. My husband and I did not make it to the halfway point of this movie before we agreed it was time to leave the theater. I am so surprised that Reese Witherspoon would have agreed to play this part. In one of the first few scenes in the movie, she is hopping into bed with her “sort of” boyfriend. She stays all night, and the next day he offers her a toothbrush from a drawer stocked with approx. 50 brand new still-in-the box toothbrushes that keeps for all his spend the night dates. She at first takes offense that he keeps extra toiletries and a stack of pink sweats for all his spend-the-night female guests, but then she ends up apologizing to him for narrow-minded thinking (????).

The next time she hops into bed with him is shortly after she tells him that he really knows nothing about her and has no idea what she does when she is not with him. While dating this fellow (Owen Wilson) she, also, starts casually dating a 2nd fellow—the movie is very immoral, full of foul language and besides all that wasn’t funny or entertaining. I believe any Christian would be very offended by this movie.
My Ratings: Moral rating: / Moviemaking quality:
Sarah, age 50 (USA)