Hitch
Starring: Will Smith, Eva Mendez, Kevin James, Amber Valletta
Directed by: Andy Tennant
Rated: PG-13 for language and some strong sexual references
Parental Notes: This sweet romantic comedy has a good message (that any guy has a shot at happiness with any gal) and a light tone. Although it may not interest younger kids, those old enough to be interested in finding the guy or gal of their dreams will probably like it.
February is a good month for romantic comedies, and “Hitch” fills out the formula with style. This is a fresh take on a handful of romantic comedy stereotypes, and while it doesn’t bring a whole lot of new material to the table, it is almost certain to please those in the mood for love.
Alex “Hitch” Hitchens (Will Smith) calls himself a contractor, but he makes his living as a date doctor, helping guys get a chance with the women of their dreams. He spouts plenty of aphorisms during the film, but the most important one, the one that sets the theme for the movie, is that any guy can have a chance with any gal — he just needs the right opportunity. Hitch takes on his biggest challenge in Albert Brennaman (Kevin James), an accountant who is desperately in love with his firm’s biggest client, heiress Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta). Albert is the classic schlub, a pudgy, desperate guy who would make a perfect husband for Allegra if he can just get her to notice him. When Hitch asks Albert if Allegra knows he exists, he says “she borrowed my pen once.”
Hitch coaches Albert for everything from how to get Allegra’s attention to the way to make a first kiss go just the right way. Meanwhile, Hitch himself has set his eyes on Sarah (Eva Mendez) a prickly gossip columnist. She’s gorgeous and intelligent, and is therefore used to having to push guys away. Hitch keeps working his magic trying to get under her defenses, and although his plans go disastrously wrong every time (his jetski breaks down on a morning adventure and later he has a disastrous reaction to the food at a fancy outing), she finds herself attracted to him in spite of herself; he is a lot more genuine when things are going wrong, and she likes what she sees.
That’s the secondary point to the film, and one that no doubt will come as a relief to plenty of nervous guys: women are used to being charmed and smarmed and most don’t like it; guys who are awkward and a little goofy at times come across as sweet and honest, which is appealing.
The men are the heart of the film, and they make it work. Smith is in fine form, using all the panache and style at his command. It’s easy to believe in Hitch as a genuine romantic and a good guy because that’s how Smith plays him. It’s not a terribly challenging role, but Smith doesn’t insult the audience by sleepwalking through it. The moments when Hitch is genuinely out of his depth ring just as true emotionally as the ones where he’s on the top of his game. Kevin James actually steals a few scenes as Albert, probably because he plays a role that could have been utterly slapstick or pathetically hangdog with a sort of dogged honesty that is utterly charming. It’s hard not to like Albert, especially when he’s making a fool out of himself for love.
The women, unfortunately, are essentially ciphers; Sarah has a little depth to her, but Allegra is about as two-dimensional as they come. That’s essentially okay, though — this is a movie about guys and their side of romance; the women aren’t the ones in focus. The lack of depth in their characters renders this movie in the upper echelons of the mediocre where giving Sarah and Allegra some actual personality would have bumped it up into the “excellent” category.
Overall, “Hitch” is a solid romantic comedy. It isn’t perfect, but it’s sweet and entertaining, and manages to avoid the twin pitfalls of over-sappiness and cruel humor. Albert may be a pudgy geek but he’s a sweet one and his flaws are what we like about him rather than something to make fun of. Likewise Hitch’s failures are something to make us sympathize with him because they are little more than mild exaggerations of the things we all dread will happen on an important date. This is entertainment with a gentle message, and a good date movie.