Hitch Movie Review:


Billed as the cure for the common man, “Hitch” stars Will Smith as Alex Hitch, New York City’s newest love doctor. He may not have found the perfect mate, but Hitch thinks he knows how to find that certain person for other men. Besides, according to the professional men who can afford his fees, most of them have already met the woman they want.

Hitch really goes out on the limb when he takes on one extremely challenging client. Albert (Kevin James) is an overweight accountant who becomes infatuated with his firm’s celebrity client Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta) -- so much so that he voices an unpopular opinion at work, causing him to quit his job.

While trying to get Albert noticed by Allegra, Hitch meets ace gossip columnist Sara Melas (Eva Mendes). She’s a tough cookie, but Hitch and Sara find themselves attracted to each other. Unfortunately, Sara has no idea Hitch is “the love doctor” everyone is talking about. When a disgruntled man Hitch refuses to take on blows his cover, Sara becomes upset because he didn’t tell her. After ending the relationship, she goes after Hitch and his reputation in her tabloid.

Good performances pump up the fun in this lively romantic comedy. Smith is great as a cool guy who rolls with the punches and firmly believes in what he does. “No Matter what, no matter when, no matter who, any man has a chance to sweep any woman off her feet,” says Hitch. “He just needs the right broom.”

Mendes is sexy and clever as the woman who tantalizes Hitch. She also does a good job projecting a hard-as-nails persona when her character feels she’s been duped. Kevin James delighted me in his role here. James’ fans already admire his sense of comedy in TV’s “King of Queens,” but he moves up the ladder in “Hitch.” While delivering laugh after laugh, James easily makes the audience buy into Albert’s plight and hope for a miracle against all odds. Holding his own with A-list co-stars, this talented comedian emerges as the best part of the movie.

“Hitch” offers saucy, fun romance – and just in time for Valentine’s Day.



Diana Saenger

How can one improve on the most formulaic of genres? The romantic comedy probably suffers more from formula than any other genre on the silver screen. How can Hollywood spice it up and make the romantic comedy fresh again? Pardon the pun but how about adding the Fresh Prince himself, Will Smith? Well that’s a start.

The next ingredient is why not make part of the film appealing to guys as well as girls. This probably wont work for all guys but it will work for some.

The very last ingredient, don’t cast a Julia Roberts, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Aniston or Kate Hudson instead make the guy the centre of the story.

Well there you have what makes “Hitch” a really different romantic comedy.

Hitch stars Will Smith as Alex Hitchens, a date doctor for the hopelessly romantic male in the heart of New York City. Hitch, as his friends call him, prides himself on helping romantically challenged males have a chance with the woman of their dreams. As Hitch puts it, we only have one chance and one chance only with that special someone and if we screw it up we will lose her.

Hitch’s latest client is accountant Albert (Kevin James) who is desperately in love with one of his firm top clients. She is Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta), a celebrity and way, way out of Albert’s league. But with a little help from Hitch’s magic maybe his dream can come true.

Investigating the case of the “urban legend” known as the date doctor, gossip columnist Sara (Eva Mendes) seems to be hot on his trail when she discovers who Allegra Cole’s latest date is, a nobody named Albert. How is this possible? Is she in over her head? Will the ties that bind rip these people apart or will love find a way?

Ok, I am a romantic at heart and I have had a lot of problems with the romantic comedy. They always seem to star some lovely starlet down on her luck until the buffed man of her dreams sweeps her off her feet. In those tiresome films, like “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” or “Someone Like You”, it’s always the supporting characters that are the most charming and believable. That isn’t the case with Hitch.

Hitch’s central character played by Will Smith is sort of the “Ferris Bueller” of the dating world and he is ultra cool. Also like “Ferris Bueller” he is also vulnerable and approachable. It’s that dynamic character development that makes this film so appealing. We love this guy.

What is also great about the film is the hilarious, yet real approaches to the characters around Hitch. Kevin James is like a lost puppy dog and how can you not cheer for him. Eva Mendes has surprisingly toned down her sex appeal and went for a more grounded approach to her character. That is really fresh and makes her character even more believable.

What is uncanny about my “Ferris Bueller” reference to Hitch is that the film’s director Andy Tennant also worked quite heavily on the “Ferris Bueller” TV series. But Tennant is probably best known for directing “Sweet Home Alabama”.

I really liked Hitch a lot more than I thought I would because I had given up on the romantic comedy at least five years ago. Don’t get me wrong there have been some funny and delightful ones but nothing that really took a new approach to the genre.

The only pratfalls I had with Hitch were in the film’s third act which seems to be littered with romantic comedy clichés. For how new the approach was to the genre I for once wanted to see a surprise resolution. But it was such a great new look at a tired genre.

So go to this movie for Will Smith but stay for Kevin James. It’s a lot of fun and such a surprise in a weak start to the 2005 movie season.



So Says the Soothsayer

Dean Kish

What this comedy lacks in cleverness or originality it more than makes up for with charm. It's vastly superior to the similar New York rom-com How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, simply because the filmmakers wisely allow a subplot to steal the thunder ... and win us over.

Alex Hitchens (Smith) is a Manhattan guru who helps guys win their perfect woman for life, not just for one date. But his latest client is going to be tough work: an overweight, clumsy accountant (James) in love with a sexy celebrity socialite (Valletta). Then Hitch meets Sara (Mendes), and he finds it difficult to follow his own advice. Especially since she's also a gossip reporter who smells a story brewing.

The plot is pure formula; we never doubt where it's going, and we can even predict story points before they come along. Tennant directs it with that glossy Hollywood sheen--suppressing his personality as a filmmaker to make a shiny, extremely smiley movie. And Smith cranks up his charm as a character who's rather smug but dashing and likeable--and even more so once he gets his comeuppance. Mendes even manages to keep up with him--sassy and tough in that "I'm really a softy underneath" kind of way.

But the film's real star is James (aka the King of Queens), who's flat-out brilliant as the goofy-chubby guy who's way out of his league, but can constantly surprise us with honest wit and soul. No matter how hard they try to wedge him into the silly sidekick role, he completely walks away with the film, and our hearts. And Valletta is surprisingly game for it all, shining especially brightly in the film's climactic scene, as well as the requisite zany credit sequence.

"Requisite" pretty much defines everything about this film. The script is a bundle of cliches, the production is slick and bland, the characters are funny and/or nasty and completely vacuous. But as far as bog standard rom-coms go, this is one of the most enjoyable ones in recent memory. And Kevin James is the main reason.

Rich Cline

For men who have problems forming a relationship with a woman in New York, they now have hope in the shape of Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens (Smith), a self proclaimed ‘Date Doctor’. With insights into the female form that most men could only dream, Hitch has helped many find the girl of their dreams but with all his knowledge of the opposite sex his own love life isn’t as buoyant as his client’s.

Will Smith takes a break from epic blockbusters and returns to his comedy roots but can he remember what it is like to do a romantic comedy?

The Fresh Prince has grown up since ending his hit TV series in 1996. Gaining Oscar nominations, winning numerous awards and starring in some huge box office smashes, Will Smith has become one of the biggest and most commercial stars working in Hollywood today. Every film he is now involved in is a huge, commercial endeavour and ‘Hitch’ is no different but it isn’t his usual action, SFX filled affair.

As Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens, Smith is a ‘Date Doctor’, a man who knows the ins and outs of woman and shows men how they should act to woo the woman they adore. The role takes him back to his comedic roots and reminds us what a range the actor has. He is one of those people you cannot help but like, meaning that his character is easy to connect and emphasis with. It is a role that Smith excels in and the film is better than it should have been for it.

Playing the female lead is an up and coming actress that is as talented as she is beautiful. Eva Mendes has made a name for herself playing strong female roles but she has a gift for romantic comedies. As Sara, she is a career driven journalist who doesn’t have time for a man in her life until Alex tries to sweep her off her feet. This is a role that Eva Mendes can excel in, as she is not just the natural beauty that she is but also a woman that is intelligent and independent, making her a strong female character.

The supporting cast is also good. Kevin James moves onto the big screen with ease to play Albert, the lowly accountant that has fallen for a beautiful heiress, who is way out of his league, or so he thinks. With the help of Hitch, his true colours get the chance to emerge and he might actually have the chance of been noticed. James grabs the role with both hands making Albert instantly likeable and extremely easy to get behind. He brings hope to all the geeky but nice men out there who just want to be noticed.

Amber Valletta is Allegra Cole, the object of Albert’s affections and a high society heiress who is constantly hounded by the paparazzi. She is a woman who lives her life through the media but no one really knows who she is until she meets Albert. The role could have been so easy to play as bitchy and self centred but Valletta makes her appealing and not repulsive, making you understand why Albert likes her.

While ‘Hitch’ might not bring anything new to the genre, the premise and the cast make it an excellent date movie. Will Smith and Eva Mendes excel, even though the story becomes extremely sugar coated during the finale, the movie has enough for both sexes to enjoy and it brings a little bit of hope to all those single men who long to be noticed.

Jamie Kelwick

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