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Hitch

Everybody knows that relationships are hard, and being the “dumpee” a failed relationship is even harder. Nobody knows more about broken hearted break-ups than Alex Hitchens, who turned his past rejection into a lucrative business venture. And his mission? Uniting men with the women who don’t know they exist.

Alex, or Hitch, played by Will Smith (I, Robot, Bad Boys), is the push in the right direction for insecure men who need a little encouragement. His latest project, Albert, (Kevin James of The King of Queens), is in love with a newly—and famously—single woman, and he’d never even spoken to her. Hitch takes Albert under his wing, setting the scene for Albert’s first real interaction with Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta), which turns into a dream Albert never would have had the daring to try if it wasn’t for Hitch.

Hitch quickly learns the meaning of the phrase “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” He meets Sara, played by Eva Mendes (2 Fast 2 Furious, Training Day), a gossip columnist who would rather expose infidelities and phonies than fall in love. They hit it off, and she is attracted to his unique pick up lines, but when they go on anything resembling a date, he becomes one of his clients, desperately needing his own “date doctor” to tell him what to do.

Ironically, she grows more interested in him with each embarrassing display, and two people who have dedicated their entire lives to avoiding love find themselves right in the midst of it, whether they want to believe it or not. Of course there are some setbacks. After all, she’s trying to expose the Date Doctor for what she thinks he really is—a weasel who helps other weasels get women into bed. Hitch has never told her that he is the Date Doctor.

The audience will be completely enamored by the cast, not finding any of the loveable characters worthy of misfortune-wishing. If a perfect fairy-tale ending is predictable in this story, then the audience wouldn’t expect—and wouldn’t want—anything other than predictability. Will Smith’s hilarious portrayal of a suave yet tongue-tied professional brings a realistic appeal to Alex Hitchens, and Eva Mendes’s charm captivates viewers in a role that every loved-and-lost person has seen themselves in at least one point in their life. Everyone knows an Albert—or is an Albert—and Kevin James plays the part with such honest sincerity that the viewer can’t help but hope that Albert manages to get the girl just by being himself—mustard stains, dancing and all. The chemistry between new friends Hitch and Albert will further endear viewers to the characters, and their relationship is proof that two heterosexual men can “accidentally” kiss without corrupting their entire rapport with awkwardness.

Viewers will smile throughout the entire movie, even between jokes, knowing that another comical situation is just a line or scene away. A sentimental scene toward the end may be the only part that queasy romance-watchers will want to head for the door, but the urge to flee will quickly be cut short by an entertaining wedding that no one should miss (Hint: Old school dance moves are revived). Hitch puts a positive spin on the dating scene for hopeless romantics and dedicated cynics alike, allowing viewers to wonder if they wouldn’t be better off with a Hitch of their own.

Written by: Rebecca A. Keller

Reviewers Rating: 9.5
Reader's Rating: 8.63
Reader's Votes: 8

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