'Hitch' follows the formula to love

Rating: 6/10 (19 April 2005)

Will Smith has been an action hero ("Independence Day"), a cool cop ("Bad Boys") and a boxing legend ("Ali"). Now it's time for Smith to play something he's been primed for ever since he was the Fresh Prince  a romantic comedy lead.
In "Hitch," Smith plays Alex Hitchens, a "date doctor" that can transform a guy from an awkward, sweet geek to a suave, sophisticated gentleman. Alex teaches guys what they need to know to get the attention of a girl and how to succeed on three dates. Supposedly after that, they have the girl.
However, Alex's world is stirred up when he falls for Sara Melas (the lovely Eva Mendes), a gossip columnist at a New York Post-like newspaper. Following the unwritten rules of a romantic comedy, Sara is cynical toward love and if a guy wants to get close to her, he has to be extraordinarily original.
Alex does everything he can to follow his own rules and play it smooth. Yet, through bad luck and timing, he can't be the dream man he teaches others to be. In one scene, he takes Sara jet skiing, only to have his motor die in the middle of the Hudson River.
A parallel plot to Alex's attempts to acquire Sara's love tells the story of Albert (Kevin James), who desperately wants to date a particular beautiful, rich heiress. Please keep in mind that this is a story set in movie-land, where almost everyone has good intentions and a chubby, clumsy nerd can woo and win over the nearly unobtainable woman.
Alex gives Albert tips on everything, from where to touch a woman for the first time (the middle back) to how to dance. Just watching Smith deliver his lines about "making all the right moves" is entertaining. His observations about a women's' perceptions of a man are devilishly clever and I wouldn't be surprised if some guys took notes.
Director Andy Tennant doesn't do anything strikingly interesting, but lets his actors mold the film. He also captures an excellent city vibe while shooting on location in New York. It might be the upper-class part of the city, but this is a movie and homeless people are not part of this reality.
What makes "Hitch" a little bit better than your average romantic comedy is not its plot. Watching "Hitch" is like eating your favorite meal at a fast food restaurant  you've eaten it several times before but it still tastes good going down.
Surprisingly, the performances of Smith and James are what make the film work. Although the preview of the film ruined some of the best bits, I laughed out loud several times at their antics and unforced comedic bravado.
This movie was released just before Valentine's Day and if you didn't see it with your special someone then, be sure to take him or her to see it before it leaves the theatre. "Hitch" is a predictable, breezy film that makes for a sweet, enjoyable date.