Clichéd ... but Enjoyable

Rating: 8/10 (31 March 2005)

Will Smith plays another egotistical man who has it all, lets the situation get out of hand, and ends up with girl.
The storyline is clichéd, pretty much everything you'd expect from the trailer, but Will Smith pulls off another above average performance as Hitch, the man that helps men get the girl (not just in bed) for for good. Kevin James (King of Queens) plays the nerdy, geeky, uncomfortable Albert, who has a crush on client Allegra Cole, wealthy socialite played fairly well by Amber Valletta (but then again, she doesn't have that many lines; she just has to look beautiful and vulnerable).
Michael Rapaport has a small but funny role as Alex Hitchens' brother-in-law and good friend.
Eva Mendes does a fine performance as the gossip columnist who falls for Hitch, is responsible for his fall, and, not surprisingly, ends up hand-in-hand with Hitch.
Most of the scenes and dialog are fairly standard, but the scenes of New York are great, especially the views from the East River. Soundtrack is good except for a couple of misplaced songs.