One of My Favorites, if Not My Favorite Movie

Rating: 10/10 (4 December 2018)

I can't put into words how much I love this film. My parents had first recommended it to me, and after seeing it, I just really, really loved it, and it changed my opinion of the romantic-comedy ('rom com') genre.
If you don't know the plot, it's about a super smooth date coach, Hitch, who gives under-confident men tips and skills to be able to engage and get together with the women of their dreams. The movie follows Hitch as he works with his new, incredibly shy client, and as he tries to woo a cynical journalist.
Kevin Bisch did a fantastic job with the screenplay, and I think it's the only movie he's done, but I wish he would've done more. It's such a fun, interesting script. Will Smith is such a good actor and a likable guy, and he really sells it and carries it, along with Kevin James. They're both really funny, and they carried this movie. I liked Eva Mendez too, and the development of her relationship with Will Smith's character really seemed genuine and unique. There wasn't a lot of cheesy, "speech from the ground to the bedroom window at night" or "slow dance at a party" stuff or anything like that. The character of Hitch knows exactly what to do, and he pulls most of it off, and it's just really fun to watch. The film achieves its goal of being a fun, memorable comedy, but also encourages insight and observation of people, and takes a moment to stop and appreciate love and relationships, as well as the people who have issues achieving that love and those relationships. It's something anyone can relate to, and it's probably the ultimate "feel good" movie.
One big thing that I like in my cinema is character development, and this movie delivers in spades. You see a lot of people, and they don't have the courage or nerve to take initiative with someone they like, which is realistic, as I actually know people like this. Hitch is smooth, but he's also human, and he makes mistakes too, and you see this. You see him trying his best, and he doesn't always get it right. Just about all of the characters start out as one character type at the beginning, and they end up changed and bettered as people by the end. Amber Valletta's character, Allegra is a rich, kind of selfish person who has everything handed to her, and who mostly hangs out with posers, 'fake' people who aren't normal, who are self-absorbed, and who don't enjoy other peoples' company, and being genuine. By the end, after entering a new and foreign relationship with Kevin James' character, Albert, she changes, and by the end, she's still rich, yes, but she's different. She's able to accept Albert because he's real, and he doesn't try to be someone he's not, and he genuinely loves her and doesn't try to put on a mask and be someone he's not, and she becomes a better person, leaving her old, obnoxious and judgmental friends behind. Kevin James' character, Albert, changes and learns to be himself and be confident, and gains the courage to engage Allegra and not worry too much about the consequences, and to take risks for something important. Eva Mendez's character, Sara, who starts out cynical and unhopeful, figuring she'll never meet a genuinely nice guy, is tired of all the faking and smooth talking most guys do, and how little they actually care or are capable of caring. She meets Hitch, and is immediately taken by his style, charisma, likable personality, and his ability to be real and not be fake when it comes to women. She gives him the benefit of the doubt, and eventually grows to like him, and eventually becomes more hopeful, optimistic, and fun by the end. And Will Smith's character, Hitch, starts out by operating and mildly true but overgeneralized and ultimately incorrect presuppositions about women, and eventually releases that they're not just a project, and after finally getting together with Sara, realizes that anything is possible and that it's not all about smooth talking, good lines, style, etc. and that those principles are wrong just as often as they're right, and by the end, he realizes that finding the right person is not a science like he originally believed.
Aside from the great story and characters, there are some great laughs in this movie, and the comedy is on point. Kevin James is hilarious, as is Will Smith, and there are some indescribably funny scenes that I can't do justice to here. Smith and James have some great chemistry, and play off of each other very well, and their scenes feel really natural. Neither of them try to take over the scene or be more than the script allows them. It's great.
This movie probably makes my top 5 of all time, but maybe I might be biased. Objectively, it's a funny, but deep and interesting commentary, and lots of fun. Just go watch it for yourself.