How Do You Know?

Updated 2026-05-15

How Do You Know? is a 2010 American romantic comedy–drama film written, produced, and directed by James L. Brooks. The screenplay was co-written by Brooks and Michael Schiffer. The film was released theatrically in the United States on December 22, 2010, by Paramount Pictures.

Production

Director: James L. Brooks
Producers: James L. Brooks, Mark R. Streit, Richard G. Fitzpatrick (executive)
Screenplay: James L. Brooks, Michael Schiffer
Cinematography: Mauro Fiore
Music: Hans Zimmer (original score) and James Newton Howard (additional music)
Editing: William M. Van der Jagt
Production companies: Depth of Field, The McGurk Company, Paramount Pictures
Budget: Approximately US$30 million

Cast

Reese Witherspoon as Lisa Jorgenson, a professional tennis player
Paul Rudd as George Vaughn, a sports agent and “player‑agent” who often matches athletes with corporate sponsors
Owen Wilson as Matty Reynolds, a political strategist and former aide to the President of the United States
Kerry Washington as Josie Leon, an executive at a pharmaceutical company
Jack Black as Bernard “Bernie” Walters, the head of a major corporate sponsor

Plot Synopsis

The narrative follows George Vaughn, a charismatic sports agent who discovers that his mother, Estelle (played by Christine Baranski), suffers from early onset Alzheimer's disease. He offers his services to Lisa Jorgenson, a rising tennis star, and the two develop a romantic relationship. Concurrently, George becomes involved in the political campaign of his friend Matty Reynolds, who runs for a Senate seat, and incurs a professional conflict when a pharmaceutical company led by Josie Leon seeks to fund the campaign in exchange for influence over the agency’s client roster. The film interweaves themes of love, fidelity, professional ethics, and the personal impact of Alzheimer's disease.

Release and Reception

Premiere: December 14, 2010 (Los Angeles)
Box office: The film grossed approximately US$47 million worldwide, failing to recoup its production and marketing costs.
Critical response: Reviews were mixed to negative. Aggregated scores placed the film at 22 % on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 165 critic reviews) and a Metacritic score of 41 / 100 (based on 40 critic reviews). Critics commonly cited uneven tonal shifts between comedy and drama, as well as a perceived lack of chemistry between the leads.
Awards: The film received a 2011 Razzie nomination for Worst Actress (Reese Witherspoon), though it did not win.

Home Media

DVD/Blu‑ray release: February 8, 2011 (Region 1), featuring commentary tracks, deleted scenes, and behind‑the‑scenes featurettes.

Cultural Impact

While the film did not achieve commercial success, the title phrase “How Do You Know?” entered popular discourse as a rhetorical question used in contexts ranging from casual conversation to persuasive argumentation. The film’s portrayal of Alzheimer's disease contributed to ongoing dialogues about the representation of neurodegenerative conditions in mainstream cinema.

References

Data compiled from publicly available box‑office reports, film credits, and reputable film criticism aggregators (Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic).