"Hitch" - It worked for me, but will it work for you?

Rating: 8/10 (15 June 2005)

"Hitch," the new romantic comedy directed by Andy Tennant and starring Will Smith, is a delightful film if not completely original, and this is coming from someone who usually hates movies like this and didn't have the slightest hopes of liking it. For one, Smith is one of the most likable personalities in current popular entertainment, and I found him to be quite appealing as the lead character of the film's title.
To collect my thoughts, I had to watch "Hitch" twice before I felt that I could accurately relay its effect on me into this comment. "Hitch" worked for me because, I myself, fall more or less into the category of men that date doctor Alex "Hitch" Hitchens (Smith) helps with their dating woes and who desperately need to meet a special woman at the office, next door, or just saw walking down the street.
But as stated earlier, I usually detest Hollywood romantic comedies, especially one as by-the-numbers as "Hitch," but damn it, it worked both times I viewed the movie. My highly critical and skeptical expectations of no-joy were proved wrong on both occasions and now I feel that "Hitch" could be required viewing for any one guy that desperate for a gal.
To quote Hitch, "If there was ever a man born without game, it was Albert Brennaman (Kevin James)," and this leads into part of the film's main plot. Albert is the screen epitome of the Lonely Guy (almost too convincing, if you ask me) and the film takes great liberty in showcasing his comedic social ineptitude and clumsiness around beautiful women.
He's Hitch's latest client, and he wants to hook up with the lovely celebrity heiress Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta) a la Paris Hilton. Albert works as one of Allegra's many yes-men account consultants and he desperately wants a date with her since she just ended a relationship and the tabloids are all over her every movement like a broom.
Albert's attempts with Allegra are paralleled by Hitch's own dating insecurities, in which his current romantic entanglement is with a pretty but man-cynical gossip columnist named Sara Milas (Eva Mendes). The budding romance that develops between the two is sweet and touching but as with all Hollywood love stories, is destined to run into trouble. And trouble comes along when the plot reveals that Sara is determined to expose the notorious New York date doctor, who of course unknown to her, is tall, dark & handsome Hitch. The results of the encounter, as the plot would require, are not pretty.
"Hitch" works largely because of the likability of its screen stars (Smith, who I've already mentioned), Eva Mendes as his love interest, and the hapless Kevin James as Albert. All three do wonders for their respective roles and the film is the better for that. But the success lie in its timing: the movie was released the weekend before Valentine's Day! So "Hitch" WOULD make for a great date movie and I'm sure that's what it's going to go down in cinematic history as.
Any complaints? Yeah, why not. The biggest misstep "Hitch" suffers from is its story, which ironic as it seems, is very fun and sharp, but ultimately uneven. The romance between the two leads is good, fun and wholesome, but the subplot with Albert and Allegra, to me, is far more interesting. I wanted to see their relationship become a lot more developed, but more time seemed devoted to Hitch and his relationship with Sara. The film seems to focus more on Hitch and Sara than it does Albert and Allegra, who I'd been led beforehand to believe the story was really about.
But with that aside, "Hitch" is still fun to watch. Then there is the lingering question of the validity of Hitch's information. Will it work for Lonely Guy? Maybe, but a woman who watches this movie might be warm to his intentions. So it might be wise for him to steer clear of Hitch's advice, if he knows what's good for him.
But still, if only more guys like Hitch existed in real life too and were able to give credible dating advice...
8/10