How Do You Know?

Movie Review:

Hadn't rented any movies to watch lately so haven't seen anything new in a while, except yesterday big sis lent me "How Do You Know", which I had mentioned to her as one that I had wanted to see. I figured it would be fun, as well as a chance to see Paul Rudd's beautiful eyes again. The film was written and directed by James L. Brooks, whose writing credits are too numerous to mention here, but include several tv shows that I watched when I was much, much younger. Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson star, as Lisa, George, Matty and Charles respectively, but Kathryn Hahn steals the show in her scenes, as Annie, the pregnant secretary. This was a little different bit for Reese playing a female athlete / confident jockgirl, but Paul, Owen and Jack all did what they do best. Now I must admit that I'm not a big Jack Nicholson fan, never have been, as he has always creeped me out, but he can still deliver lines as only he can, my favourite being "No... drivel does not get to finish. Drivel gets interrupted."

I loved the set design, in particular Matty's well endowed and extremely organized and tidy bachelor pad, as well as Charles' well-decorated posh apartment, including but not limited to his desk, the cushions on the sofa.... everything. But... as always, what makes or breaks a movie is the writing, and this movie had some great bits.  The dialogue along with some phsyical comedy and playful punches made for an upbeat movie, despite the difficulties which the two main characters were experiencing in their lives.

"You have all the signs of a handful."  "I hope so." (punch)

"I’m dying for you." "That’s a little extreme... just be nauseous for me."

"... It is killing me.. this information... it’s like I know someone is going to shoot you and I can’t just scream “watch out someone’s gonna blow your friggin head off”."

"Do you ever just want to delete every sentence you’re saying even as you’re saying them?"

"I’m not gonna be great company tonight."  "Are you kidding me? Even right now this is the best conversation I’ve had since the night we didn’t say a word to each other."

"You are truly something ... which means that my thinking about you incessantly isn’t just an aspect of the trouble I’m in."

"Why don’t you shut up too? What the hell do you know except for looking at me like you’re Bambi.. Have you ever seen that movie?" "Yeah, it’s a wonderful film... I own it."

"Tonight you’ve done me a great turn. You’ve given me temporary amnesia."  "Get outta here. I can’t believe you’d tell me all you just did and then you flirt with me."

"You can’t cry...  you...ethical mutant."

"I have kept this as proof that we are one small adjustment away from making our lives work."

"Are you hungry? Always."

"Accept the enormity. Give up illusions of containment. The hardest fact of all is that no matter what the outcome, it is unlikely you can ever again be the person you have been until now."