Hitch (2005)
Starring: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber Valletta, Julie Ann Emery, Robinne Lee, Nathan Lee Graham, Adam Arkin, Michael Rapaport, Jeffrey Donovan, Paula Patton, Philip Bosco, Kevin Sussman, Navia Nguyen, Matt Malloy
Director: Andy Tennant
Running Time: 115 minutes
US MPAA rating: PG-13UK BBFC rating: 12a
Comedy, Romance
The ultimate dating movie, 'Hitch' flirts with the idea of side-stepping standard rom-com predictability, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty is little more than a great big tease. Thankfully though, this shameless feel-gooder has more than enough charm, star quality and good ol' fashioned humour to make up for that slightly-irksome refusal to go the whole way.
It stars Will Smith as Alex "Hitch" Hitchens, a bloke who's made a none-too-shabby career for himself as a self-styled "Date Doctor". A sort of Cupid for the mobile phone era, he spends his time dishing out sagely advice to New York's unlucky-in-love, and then charging what would appear to be a not-so-small fee for the privilege.
Hitch's latest client is Albert (Kevin 'King of Queens' James), a tubby financial adviser who's become smitten with celebrity socialite Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta). Getting this supremely-mismatched pair together looks like it may well be our hero's biggest challenge yet - until, that is, he gets the hubba-hubbas for sworn singleton Sara (Eva Mendes), and realises that the love life most difficult to fix is his own.
From its bankable cast-list to its unflinchingly safe line of comedy, 'Hitch' isn't the sort of movie that takes any risks. Still, it's seldom less than enjoyable (only the last 15 minutes or so drag a little), and there's a lot to like about the various array of lovelorn characters splattered across the screen (they're a bit like the folks from
It's Got: A very brief glimpse of Jade Goody. Seriously.
It Needs: To resist any temptation to make a sequel. The first date was fun, but let's leave it there.
Alternatives: Breakin' All the Rules
Summary: The Fresh Prince meets the King of Queens in this predictable-but-amusing rom-com. If you're after a chuckle at the moment, you could do much worse than to get yourself Hitched.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 6th March 2005
External Links
Official Web Site
Hitch at the IMDB
