Even Will Can't Save It

Rating: Null/10 (23 March 2005)

Even an incredibly likable Will Smith can't save this romantic comedy that has too much sappy romance and not enough comedy.
In Hitch, Will Smith has taken a break from his high-action movies to give a romantic comedy his talent. He plays a Manhattan date doctor who helps men with their romantic issues, but the real test comes when he also becomes interested in a newspaper reporter that is unaware of his line of work. Although the premise sounds original, when the movie gets moving it seems that we've heard it all before.
It's also important that the romantic comedy has comedy. Without it a movie becomes a drama that's extremely cheesy, this is what Hitch is essentially. Comedy will break up the cheesiness and make the movie endearing. It also helps the audience see though the implausibility. I mean, at least add a funny best friend or something.
Lastly, it should be a rule that romantic comedies should only be allowed to be less than 1 and a half hours. This movie pushes two hours. That's way too long, even for a good romantic comedy.