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</script></div>{/googleAds}Having found success many times over as cyborg hunter, alien fighter, and action hero, it was just a matter of time before Will Smith's talents lead him down the path to his first romantic comedy. After all, his roots are steeped in the wholesome comedic finesse of his lovable Will in TV's Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire. Smith naturally soaks up his role in Hitch with a subtle confidence that just oozes cool.
Writer Kevin Bisch and director Andy Tenant have devised the perfect role for Smith's charming wit and distinctive talents. He's Alex Hitchens, the "date doctor" or the guy you call when you need help getting noticed by the girl of your dreams. Although he doesn't promise to find you love, he will guarantee to provide you with the "opportunity" to make contact. What you do with it from there is up to your own jiggy little self because his services are only good for the first three dates or the first kiss, whichever comes first.
His latest client is Albert Brenneman (Kevin James) a stocky, balding junior accountant with the social graces of Barney Fife and the hots for one of his firm's richest clients, Allegra Cole (Amber Valetta) whose ex-husband Hitch proclaims, "owned Sweden, or something." Some of the film's funniest moments come as Hitch prepares Albert for his first "encounter".
It's easy to sympathize with Albert because we've all been in his shoes to some degree or another. And let's face it, dating is one of the world's most awkward social intricacies. James' physical humor and clumsiness is often reminiscent of Chris Farley or John Belushi. The chemistry displayed by Smith and James is priceless, especially during one hilarious scene in which Hitch tries to teach Albert how to dance without biting his lower lip.
Of course Hitch turns Albert into a lean, mean smooth-talking machine who so impresses Allegra that the pair begin dating, much to the chagrin of the leering supermarket-tabloid press.
The twist of irony is that while he dishes out manly-man advice to his paying schleps, Hitch's own love life is a total wreck. He tries his patented moves on Sara (Eva Mendes), a tabloid gossip columnist with a mile-high wall of cynicism. Of course Sara eventually softens to Hitch's advances and the two hit it off, but not before a rather rocky beginning. Mendes is stunningly beautiful and not to mention "bootylicious." Her steely façade, constructed from years of dating experience, makes her just that much more attractively unattainable. We root for Hitch to "tear down that wall."
All in all, Hitch is a fun if not formulaic romantic comedy that counteracts its paint-by-numbers plot with its unique blend of charm, physical humor, and human emotion. Although it telegraphs its blows, it's fun nonetheless to watch one of the smoothest operators since Mickey Rourke's John in 9 1â„2 Weeks ply his craft. Told from the man's perspective, it has a touch of savoir-faire distinction and sophistication that puts it a level or two above most romantic comedies.
DVD Details:
Screen formats: Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1
Subtitles: English; French; Closed Captioned
Language and Sound: English: Dolby Digital 5.1; French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access; deleted scenes; featurettes.
* Featurettes: Five short Making-of featurettes.
* Deleted Scenes - Two deleted scenes plus the first seven minutes of Hitch completely rescored. Includes a short voice over from director Andy Tennant explaining the reason for the rescore that ended up as the final product.
* Music Video - featuring the song 1 Thing by Amerie.
* Blooper Reel - flubbed lines, missed queues and numerous profanity bleeps.
* Trailers - For thirteen upcoming movies and DVDs.
Number of discs: 1 - Keepcase packaging.
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