Hitch

Will Smith plays Alex Hitchins, a professional date doctor hired by men unlucky in love to find a way into their sweetheart’s heart. Through research, coaching and suggesting ideal date locations Alex goes around New York setting up happy couples. Meanwhile, Sara (Eva Mendes) works as a gossip columnist, mainly following the glitzy Allegra Cole (Amber Valetta) and is determined herself to stay out of relationships.

Quite predictably Alex and Sara meet and their conversations are rife with him pulling all the right moves (for himself this time) and her trying to resist them. Secretly they are both relationship phobes, and this makes their budding attraction comically awkward. Alex’s newest client is Albert (Kevin James) a clumsy accountant infatuated with the famous Elegra Cole, who does her accounting at his firm and is way out of his league. Hitch does all he can for Albert; teaches him how to dance, kiss and keep his cool, but at the end of the day Albert is on his own.

All romantic comedies contain a point where they go from being funny to more serious, as the romance element takes over. Hitch is no different, but the characters are so strong and so different that when that switch comes you really are more interested in knowing how things will work out. Thankfully this film is not that cheesy; even the heavily idealised moments are portrayed realistically enough that you don’t groan inwardly, except perhaps towards the end. The film’s premise is pretty creative, and many of the comic situations are truly original and very amusing. Hitch’s advice and strategies are romantically inventive and all framed within reality, making it a more believable film and engrossing situation.

Will Smith is far less annoying than in any of his previous roles, his character is not egotistical but has enough confidence to pull off some beautiful moves. The main girl of the feature, Eva Mendes is perfect for her role, being funny and sweet but also showing great strength and independence.

If you have to, or want to, see a romantic comedy this term then Hitch really is the one to watch.

Nick Grills