Written by: Kevin Bisch
Directed by: Andy Tennant
Starring: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Adam Arkin, Michael Rapaport, Jeffrey Donovan, Paula Patton
Rated: PG-13
Plot
While helping his latest client woo the woman of his dreams, a professional "date doctor" finds that his game isn't working on the gossip columnist he's pursuing.
Verdict
A light hearted rom-com carried by the charisma of Will Smith. This looks at dating etiquette with Smith as someone who knows how to cut right through it. The writing is fun with plenty of back and forth. Smith and James are the perfect foils as smooth and awkward. The ending is completely predictable, but it's a fun time getting there.
It depends.
Review
This is Will Smith back when he made enjoyable, comprehensible movies. He's a date doctor, helping awkward, socially helpless men land dates with their dream women. He gets a new client Albert (Kevin James) that will take all of his effort to land that date.
It's fun watching Will Smith be smooth. Few actors have the charisma to pull this off and he's perfect for the part. Just so you don't think Hitch is a bad guy, he refuses to help guys pursuing a one night stand. I don't know how he vets them, but in a movie like this it's safe to assume he does. His job is to give women the chance to see his clients for whom they truly are.
There's some fun back and forth in the movie, especially when he first meets Eva Mendes. He saves her from a guy hitting on her and then he tells her theoretically what a guy could or should say as it's obvious she's not interested in being picked up. He cuts through the social norms, saying how he wouldn't ask her about her job because then she might think he's just pretending to be interested. It's best to avoid it. It's cute dialog.
Hitch crafts perfect dates and ways to get Eva's attention.This also acts as love letter to New York, providing an endearing setting that's often characterized as mean, dirty, and gruff.
There's even even a Cyrano de Bergerac moment, with Smith standing behind a door right next to James who is very nervous because he's talking to his crush. James is great as the bumbling guy tripping over his own two feet.
The conflict arrives when one of Eva's friends mentions a date doctor and implies the doc's job is just go get guys laid. We know it isn't true, but she doesn't. It's a big misunderstanding that culminates in Hitch telling her off as he realizes he really likes her. You might expect this movie would have a happy ending and it does, the truth setting everyone free. It's a light, fun movie that's enjoyable to watch.
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