Written by Alex Sukhoy for Film Slate Magazine. Friday 17 December 2010.

In order to enjoy “How Do You Know,” starring Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd and Jack Nicholson, forget the trailers, don’t expect a comedy, sit back and absorb a wise tale about modern times.

The story focuses on four characters: Lisa (Witherspoon), a twenty-seven year old softball player, Matty (Wilson), a charming athlete, George (Rudd) a corporate manager and Charles (Nicholson), George’s father and boss. Each actor is superb in authenticity and, as usual, Rudd brings his special warm-heartedness to every single scene.

The film begins with a flashback, indicating Lisa’s strong and talented personality, even as a child, and then segues to the present. Lisa learns that she’s been cut from the team and has no idea where her future will take her, mostly because she has no other plan. She begins a relationship with Matty who, while a great catch on the surface, doesn’t provide a nurturance that Lisa doesn’t even realize she needs. George is subpoenaed for alleged illegal company actions, has to sell all his possessions to pay his new legal fees and meets Lisa immediately after learning his fate. Charles tells George that, due to a conflict of interest, he has to let his son go from the family business. All four characters spend the nearly two-hour film trying to answer the inevitable question of, “What’s next?”

James L. Brooks, the mastermind behind “As Good As It Gets,” “Terms of Endearment,” and “The Simpsons,” wrote and directed “How Do You Know.” With this new movie, it’s almost as though he decided to revisit and rewrite his gem “Broadcast News” for a new generation. Both movies focus on a twenty-something type A female involved in a love triangle with an attractive and successful–yet somewhat shallow–tall blond, WASPY man and a neurotic dark-haired compassionate man who is about to lose everything. Also, in both films, Nicholson plays the corporate executive, making decisions that influence people’s destinies. Additionally, “Broadcast News” and “How Do You Know” use the Washington DC area as the setting. Finally, both stories are incredibly thoughtful about the difficulties of the human experience.

Neither film is funny. Yet both are infused with an intelligent wit that makes life a little more bearable. A little more present. A little less uncertain. And, as with most of Brooks’ cinema, the emotion is complex, never sentimental and showcases the relationship aftermath between children and parents.

Yet this is exactly where the disconnect occurs. The trailers for “How Do You Know” make it seem that this is a film about laughs with both lead and supporting actors that are all great in their comedic timing. Katheryn Hahn (“Hung”) plays Annie, Charles’ very pregnant and still single secretary. Mark Linn-Baker (“Perfect Strangers”) is legal counsel. Molly Price (“Bionic Woman”) is Lisa’s supportive coach. Tony Shalhoub shines as Lisa’s gentle therapist. And veteran TV actor Lenny Venito (“Bored to Death”), as Annie’s baby daddy Al, steals the film with his memorable monologue.

“How Do You Know” deserves a repeat watch, to truly dig into its truths and lessons. Brooks wrote a social commentary on a time in history when the surrounding technology enabling connection once never imagined has, instead, resulted, in human disconnection. What was no longer is and what is no longer will be.

About half way into the film Lisa admits to George that she may not have what it takes to live up to what’s considered the norm, especially for a young woman. Truth is, none of the characters can claim they do and this broken, yet simultaneously hopeful, human spirit is the very thing that ignites the audience to truly care for what happens to these people.

Life is messy. This we all know.

DIRECTOR: James L. Brooks SCREENWRITER: James L. Brooks PRODUCERS: John D. Schofield, James L. Brooks CAST: Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd, Jack Nicholson MPAA RATING: PG-13