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How Do You Know
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Metascore
46 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 38 Critics What's this?

User Score
3.9 out of 10

Generally unfavorable- based on 54 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 38
  3. Negative: 7 out of 38
  1. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Calvin Wilson
    Dec 17, 2010
    75
    A bit slow to get started, and it's nowhere near as funny as "The Hangover." But it'll make you smile.
  2. Slate
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    Dec 17, 2010
    60
    Brooks has given us the rare contemporary rom-com that's by turns (if intermittently) thoughtful and funny, and that doesn't feel focus-grouped, cynical, misogynist, or mean. It seems ungenerous not to cut such a generous movie a break.
  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    Dec 17, 2010
    38
    This rambling, overproduced, tone-deaf melange of romance, comedy and drama is only slightly more engaging than Brooks' other feature this century, the unfortunate Adam Sandler vehicle "Spanglish" (2004).

See all 38 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 24
  3. Negative: 18 out of 24
  1. sadrans
    8
    Whoa. There are a lot of bad reviews for this movie. That surprises me, because I loved it, and I'm not usually into romantic comedies. What makes this movie good is that it feels like it could really happen. Everybody has crappy days, and this movie is about finding the things in life that make you want to enjoy it again. The acting is really what makes this movie good. Paul Rudd is an extremely likeable lead, as is Reese Witherspoon. Heck, even Owen Wilson is fun to watch. But Jack Nicholson's character takes the cake. Most scenes, especially those with Nicholson, made me laugh out loud several times. This really is a sweet and funny movie, and I don't understand why it's getting such bad reviews, especially user reviews. It was wayyy better than Morning Glory.… Expand
    • 2 of 3 users said yes
  2. mrcritic
    3
    Surprisingly, this movie was quite bad. Ranging from flat acting to boring scripts, the only thing I ended up knowing from this bad film is that Nicholson looks like an oompa loompa. Oh, and to never spend $150 million making a romantic comedy with A-, and B+ stars.… Expand
    • 2 of 2 users said yes
  3. grandpajoe6191
    3
    "How Do You Know" is just plain terrible. Despite the decent performances the movie fails to derive from something new and (literally) eats up a big cake of cliches and rom-com formulas. Its a film you want to watch in an airplane while taking a nap. Trust me, you will sleep faster.… Expand
    • 3 of 3 users said yes

See all 24 User Reviews

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