Charming Smith, Yummy Mendes and Funny James cannot save this half-baked rom com

Rating: Null/10 (14 February 2005)

HITCH (2005) ** Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber Valletta, Adam Arkin, Michael Rapaport, Philip Bosco. So-so romantic comedy  Smith's first by the way (!)  with Big Willie as a matchmaker of sorts in NYC whose latest client (James, arguably the best thing in the film stealing scenes with masterful slapstick and surprising heartfelt emotion), a lovesick mess after the unobtainable gorgeous socialite (Valletta) serves as a parallel to his own sudden infatuation with a feisty gossip columnist (the always yummy Mendes) who proves to be his biggest challenge to date (pun intended). Despite Smith's undeniable charisma coasting through this arbitrary by design screenplay by novice Kevin Bisch (and it shows with some dreadfully leaden sequences that deflate most of the air out of the otherwise occasionally entertaining flick particularly in its final act) and able support (even Valletta is surprisingly good) that alone cannot save the oddly hostility percolating just beneath the surface for a star vehicle. (Dir: Andy Tennant)