Will Smith and “The King of Queens” star Kevin James both earn their place atop the marquee in this surprisingly pleasant romantic comedy from director Andy Tennant (“Sweet Home Alabama”). It’s surprising given the early February release (normally a time for Brittany Murphy and Stephen Dorff films to die at the box office), and because the ubiquitous film trailer, in which True Love transforms Smith’s smooth operator into a bumbling idiot, isn’t all that funny or representative of what “Hitch” is really about. Alex “Hitch” Hitchens is a notorious and deliberately anonymous New York City “date doctor” who makes a pretty penny coaching bashful fellas on the art of wooing unforgettable women. His biggest challenge yet arrives in the form of an unassuming, overweight accountant named Albert (James) who’s hopelessly in love with one of his clients, the gorgeous Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta). Allegra’s very famous for her looks and money — think Paris Hilton, only a heck of a lot more down-to-earth — but clearly not so unattainable to deter Hitch, who has yet to meet the mismatched pair he couldn’t hitch (clever name-play, eh?) As usual, Smith is the consummate charmer, and here he pretty much has everyone in the film and audience in the palm of his hand before the opening titles finish rolling. He and James make a good team and hit all the right comedic notes working with very funny material courtesy of first-time screenwriter Kevin Bisch, a former “Details” magazine editor with a genuine feel for his characters’ stylish stomping grounds. Rounding out the cast in fine form is Eva Mendez (“Training Day”) as the feisty gossip columnist who gives the date doctor a bad case of lovesickness that leaves him questioning his own sure fire methods. (Rated PG-13 - for language and some strong sexual references. Running time: 115 minutes)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 11, 2005. Read the original PDF.