A very worthwhile movie for what it is

Rating: 7/10 (23 September 2005)

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits
Relationships with members of the opposite sex can be a tricky and frustrating thing. So it's good to have someone like Hitch (Will Smith) around. He dedicates his life to reading and understanding the body language of women and determining how to make a good relationship work. But the nature of his occupation is secret, and it's only a matter of time before it becomes known. Plus, although Hitch is a hit at match-making with others, his own love-life is highly questionable.
This is probably not the kind of film I'd usually give a go, but I remember when it premiered in my home city earlier in the year and Smith did a day long trek from Manchester to Birmingham and I went to the Birmingham premiere, purely for research purposes, I'm no Smith fanatic (unlike some of the girls there!), I just wanted to see what that kind of thing would be like in person. But this adverse publicity has finally rubbed off on me and I've given Hitch a go.
As I said in my summary, for the kind of film it was it was very worthwhile and a refreshingly different sort of film for me. Smith has a natural presence and charm in the lead role and he is backed up by a very good supporting cast. It's an inspired concept, and the story, though a little incoherent, is funny and perfectly charming when it needs to be. It's basically all pulled off with aplomb and a very satisfying end product has been delivered.
It's not a classic and it's not likely to leave a very long-lasting impression, but it's a nice film and a very pleasing way to spend a couple of hours. ***