How Do you Know, written and directed by James L. Brooks

How Do you Know, written and directed by James L. Brooks

Well, the name itself is funny and invites some controversy and it is an invitation to see this spectacle.

There are some good reasons to watch this film, one of which is to see Jack Nicholson in his last role…

To date

Jack Nicholson has announced his interest in a remake of Toni Erdmann, a triumphant film that was produced…in my land.

How Do You Know is not an effervescent, ecstatic comedy, which explains in part the low rating it received from critics.

However, the actors offer very good performances, although it is not the best role in which you could see Mythical Jack.

Reese Witherspoon is a somewhat confused, attractive, amusing and tolerant young woman called Lisa.

She has a relationship with Matty aka Owen Wilson, who appears to be interesting, but also bewildered man.

Matty’s extravaganza makes for some hilarity.

In one scene, Lisa spends the night with this bachelor and she is told to change from her dress.

This outlandish young man has a closet with women clothes…

An incredible number of bathrobes and auxiliaries!

What color do you want?

Lisa is astonished, for there are all the nuances of the rainbow on display.

This is of course a laughing matter for the viewer, but a disturbing discovery for a potential partner.

This man is not just sleeping around.

Matty does this systematically and with peculiar attention to details, changing outfits and he has big goals…

He intends to sleep with hundreds of women.

Lisa packs up and leaves this “unconventional” macho character.

A few times.

Alas, she also shows frailty when she decides to return and listen to the declarations and promises of this serial partner.

Fortunately, there is George.

Paul Rudd is nearly perfect as the romantic, clean, moral, decent, good looking, and modern eligible man.

For some time, he seems so delightful that the woman just does not believe it- this is what comes to mind.

Otherwise, how could she stay with the ingratiating, gallant, but rather immoral, derisive Matty?

Jack Nicholson plays Charles, George’s father and a villain.

Regrettably, this part does not offer the once God of cinema the chance to make the audience think back at:

R.P. McMurphy, J.J.Gittes, Warren Schmidt, Will Randall, Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, The Joker or any of his other memorable performances

Charles has been involved in serious malfeasance and he wants his son to take the blame and save him.

Because of other crimes committed when he was nineteen, the father is facing a life sentence.

So, why not get the son to do some decades of prison instead?

In a comedy, this means amusement, if not hilarity.

Overall, How Do You Know is good entertainment.