How do you know? - Movie vs. Life

I just finished watching the Reese Witherspoon/Paul Rudd (and Owen Wilson) movie, "How Do You Know?" Now, the movie was about 2 hours, and at times the movie is a bit intense at times, but I really liked it.Why? It was hones,t true, to life, and at times fumblingly awkward but adorable. It raised some important points:

- Sometimes you really like someone but they don't make you happy.
- Sometimes you word vomit in front of someone when you want to play it cool.
- Sometimes meals are nice when they're 100% quiet.
- Sometimes talking to a near stranger about your life craziness can be the best thing.
- Sometimes you fall for the person you least plan to fall for.
- Sometimes your crazy "I think this is in private" freak-out can work to your advantage and make you seem crazy-adorable instead of crazy.

The greatest strength of this movie is that everyone was having a rough time. Between the varied issues of failed careers, relationships, crumbling family life, pregnancy... everyone has problems, and yes they tend to get in the way of our otherwise smooth lives.

The main characters found each other at not-so ideal times, but they really needed that person in their life. They often spoke in half-sentences, mutters, and wished they could rewrite conversations. The self-doubt that was on the surface of each character: Reese's showing up at Owen's apartment and asking to stay the night and not be asked about any crying or cuddling, Paul Rudd asking Reese (after he kissed her) if she had come downstairs to tell him not to wait for her, Owen leaving Reese a message where he says she can't see how sad he is (and he takes a photo with his phone to text her).

So, How do you know if someone likes you?
I'm guessing you often don't. Relationships are hard. Love is hard. Talking about your feelings (big shocker here people- is also hard). Unless you ask and be a little insane (see Paul Rudd staring at Reese through the window of the taxi she is sitting in- and her promptly telling him to stop staring at her like that). But there are times when you realize (miracle of miracles) that someone really does care for you. This movie offered a completely touching (and not overly sappy) scene where PRudds goes to find out if there is any chance between he and Reese.

Spoiler alert! PRudds shows up at Reese's lavish birthday party that her boyfriend is throwing for her, and he asks to talk to her on the beautifully decorated terrace. She has already been presented with a totally lavish watch (that is so not her) by the boyfriend, who says its a pre-engagement present. His dad gave his mom a watch and bam!- 7 years later they got engaged. PRudds got her a can of play dough and told her a sweet story about how it came to be a kids toy after it was originally used to clean walls. His final part of the story: its a great present for her because it shows that we're all one small turn away from getting the right fit. Conclusion- He gets her. He maybe even COMPLETES HER (Love Jerry McGuire)! She realizes she can be herself, totally herself (even taking an excruciating about of time to open her wrapping paper) with PRudds. Isn't that all we want? I know I do.