Imagine your perfect date movie. What would it involve? Criticism of the dating scene? A happy ending? Will Smith? With just enough of all three, "Hitch" delivers exactly what it promises: a few genuinely funny moments, and an overall enjoyable theater-going experience.
Alex Hitchens (Will Smith) is the Manhattan date doctor, coaching inept guys on how to sweep their dream girl off her feet. We meet Hitch as he does his thing, explaining to his various clients the importance of listening, kissing, and footwear. Backed by his advice, his clients succeed as he smiles approvingly.
Next we meet Sara (Eva Mendes), the gossip columnist for a New York Post-style tabloid. Embittered and cynical, Sara distrusts all men and delights in rejecting their advances. An icy beauty? This sounds like a job for Hitch!
The two begin dating, and, of course, hilarity ensues. The normally ultra-suave Hitch suffers a number of mishaps around Sara, bumbling his way into her heart. Her affection inexplicably disappears, however, when she discovers his job as the infamous Date Doctor, and we're all set for the feel good happily-ever-after make up scene.
Interspersed with the duo's romantic hijinks, a side story focuses on one of Hitch's clients, insecure investor Albert (Kevin James of King of Queens) as he pursues one of his clients, Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta) - a super celebrity in the mold of Nicole Kidman. Their herky-jerky romance, at first ridiculous, is surprisingly charming and realistic. Kevin James plays his part to perfection, showcasing hilarious dance moves ("I'm making a pizza!") and a good sense of physical romantic comedy.
The hidden gem of the film, however, is the soundtrack. For a movie about dating and how to woo your dream girl, the song selection gives what is probably the best advice of the film. One could make an excellent mix CD with the classic love songs by Jimmy Cliff, The Temptations, The O'Jays, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Will Smith, in his first romantic lead, does a decent job with Hitch. He works best as the cool, collected Hitch we see early in the film, but stumbles towards the end when forced to humble himself and deliver speeches about love. The same can be said about Eva Mendes who, while beautiful, seems to lack a passionate attachment to Hitch.
Part of the problem lies with the script. At one point Hitch recalls his collegiate days, and we are shown an awkward, blundering young Hitch. Just how he went from super geek to smooth operator isn't clear. Indeed, first time writer Kevin Bisch seems more concerned with providing awkward moments and speeches about the nature of love than he does with providing a solid back-story.
Hitch is given a number of terrible metaphors of love to espouse, including one about how we all need to fall because if we don't fall, we won't fly. Or something. Will Smith seems fairly uncomfortable delivering the speeches, looking a little like the sheepish Will we knew from "Prince of Bel Air".
Beyond his wholesome messages, Hitch adds his own sense of morals, refusing to help guys who are just looking to "get laid." While in real life accountant Albert's obsession with a celebrity he doesn't know might be more aptly decribed as "stalkerish" or "creepy," in the film it's genuinely cute. It's refreshing to see a stumpy accountant woo a woman who in another film might be pursued by Ben Affleck or Tom Cruise.
The script does have its moments. For a movie that from the trailers appears to be a cool-black-guy-teaches-lame-white-guys-to-dance film, "Hitch" goes in the other direction, actually attempting to give dating advice to the hapless guys in our society. Eventually it becomes clear that all Hitch does for his clients is give them the confidence to show women who they truly are. Most men, according to the film, are great guys with no self-confidence. Very Hollywood, to be sure, but a sweet message nonetheless.
Overall, "Hitch" works. Although by no means great, the film is a perfect date flick. Totally inoffensive, it mocks both sexes equally, poking fun at our inhibitions when it comes to the opposite sex.
Although probably not "the cure for the common man" as it claims, for those looking to harmlessly kill a couple hours, give "Hitch" a shot.
