Riley Review

by Tim Riley - Feb. 16, 2005

LAUGHS FIND “HITCH” IN RIOTOUS ROMANTIC COMEDY

HITCH

(Rated PG-13)

            At the time of year when most exchange flowers and boxes of chocolate, a few cynics will snort that romantic comedies in general overreach for laughs that are often predictable, shopworn and trite.  These skeptics could have in mind “Hitch” for their dismissive approach.  Like many pessimists, they would be wrong to so easily dismiss Will Smith’s expansive talent for making us laugh, which he manages to do in abundance this time with nary an alien creature in sight.  That “Hitch” entertains the conventional notions of romantic comedy is undeniable.  Still, it works tremendously well in spite of its inescapable affinity for a proven comedic formula.

            Affable and charismatic, Smith fits his character of the cool, self-assured Alex “Hitch” Hitchens with considerable ease.  He’s instantly likable as a Manhattan “date doctor” who helps shy and socially inept men approach and win over the women of their dreams in no more than three dates.  Apparently, judging by his spiffy bachelor pad, he does quite well financially in the matchmaking business.  For reasons unexplained, he keeps his trade a guarded secret, working only on referrals for clients in need.  To help one nerdy lovesick soul, Hitch stages a fake animal rescue to win over a particularly tough target.

            One poor slob desperately seeking help in the dating department is the clumsy, overweight and awkward accountant Albert Brennaman (Kevin James).  The object of his affection is the beautiful socialite Allegra Cole (supermodel Amber Valletta), a celebrity in the local tabloids for no other reason than her great wealth and fondness for the party circuit.  Serving as one of her junior accountants in a major firm, Albert is so impossibly in love with Allegra that the challenge proves irresistible to Hitch.
            Yet, Albert is so hopeless and bungling that his goal seems unattainable until some useful coaching from Hitch comes in handy.  After finding his voice in a boardroom meeting, Albert tosses away his career in order to impress Allegra with his willingness to share her vision on important business matters.  Working up to this point of assertiveness requires some deft and often hilarious coaching from Hitch, who tries mightily to get Albert saying and doing the right things.  The difficulty for Albert is that he doesn’t have any smooth moves.  He dances as if possessed by Mexican jumping beans and is incapable of eating a hot dog without spilling mustard on his shirt.

            Meanwhile, for all his expertise and great success in helping other guys, Hitch’s own romantic life is in disarray.  He has no steady girlfriend, and he appears stumped in how to make his principles work as well for himself.  Then he stumbles upon the gorgeous Sara Melas (Eva Mendes), an ambitious gossip columnist for the New York Standard.  In this chance encounter, he tries too hard, pressing an image that doesn’t fit reality.  He regains his balance when he becomes more himself rather a fiction he would like to promote. 

            Of course, the tricky part of romance between Hitch and Sara is the inevitable collision of their professional lives.  Dogged in her pursuit of society gossip, Sara is hot on the trail of the budding romance between Allegra and Albert, a new source of tabloid fodder.  Naturally, Sara is unaware of Hitch’s involvement with an affair that is drawing increased media attention, but she remains determined to find out more about the mismatched lovebirds before being scooped by rival tabloids.  As Sara probes deeper into the “love connection” between Albert and Allegra, isn’t it likely she will unearth some uncomfortable truths?  Well, you probably know the answer to that question.

            Despite some standard formulaic material, “Hitch” is a crowd-pleasing riotous romantic comedy because several factors are in play.  First and foremost, there’s a steady stream of laughs, with some situations resulting in absolute hilarity.  The film’s humor does not come at the expense of its characters, with the exception of one particularly slimy suitor.  Chemistry is also apparent between the leading romantic characters, with an even greater rapport between Will Smith and Kevin James.  Wildly funny, “Hitch” is a real pleasure to watch.