Reese Witherspoon channels Marcia Brady in new rom-com

Oh, man. I am wracked with guilt over the fact that the pay wall is down (for now) but I have been away from the blog for the past couple of days.

I told you the other day I have a different work schedule these days, one primarily focused on the newspaper. Sorry.

Anyway, over the past 20 hours or so I've been on a whirlwind tour of the big city at holiday time, including a couple of social/work gatherings, an interview and a movie screening.

As a special holiday gift - and as a welcome back to those who have been on the wrong side of the pay wall for the past year - I am going to refrain from the shameless name-dropping for which I used to be notorious.

OK, just one: I saw Morley Safer! I feel better now.

Anyway, today I screened a movie coming out next week that is called "How Do You Know."

It's a romantic comedy with an A-list cast that includes Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd and Jack Nicholson.

I am not allowed to review it until Wednesday - assuming I ever do - but I am allowed to comment on the sports aspect, as Ms. Witherspoon plays a national team softball star and Mr. Wilson plays a pitcher for the Nationals.

Both are their reliably adorable selves, but how realistic are their portrayals of elite athletes?

I have no idea, because the writers and producers (perhaps wisely) severely limit anything resembling action scenes involving either one of them.

There is one moment during a softball practice in which Ms. Witherspoon's character is distracted and promptly bonked in the face with a softball thrown by a teammate.

I immediately had flashbacks to one of the most traumatic images of my childhood. See video above. It still hurts after all these years.

That's all for now, folks. Enjoy the Knicks' seventh consecutive victory!