Will Smith as Alex ‘Hitch’ Hitchens
Eva Mendes as Sara
Kevin James as Albert
Amber Valletta as Allegra Cole
Julie Ann Emery as Casey
Robinne Lee as Cressida
Nathan Lee Graham as Geoff
Adam Arkin as Max
Michael Rapaport as Ben
Jeffrey Donovan as Vance
Paula Patton as Mandy
Philip Bosco as Mr. O’Brian
Kevin Sussman as Neil
Navia Nguyen as Mika
Matt Malloy as Pete
Critique:
Valentine’s Day is always in need of a good date movie – fortunately Hitch is here to play Cupid this year. Will Smith is Hitch, the man that other men go to in order to get the girls of their dreams to notice them. He has a great track record of finding the right way for his clients to introduce themselves to their future girlfriends, but he is in for the greatest challenge of his career when clumsy accountant Albert (Kevin James) wants help with getting a date with the sexy supermodel Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta).
Hitch is a romantic comedy in all of the best ways. The characters are all charming and believable, making you want everything to work out in the end. The development of the relationship between Hitch and gossip columnist Sara (Eva Mendes) is the gem of the movie. The humor ranges from physical to situational comedy and is often laugh out loud funny.
Technically the film is a polished Hollywood release. Filmed entirely in New York, the settings are familiar but still fresh. The score blends in well and never overshadows the acting. The one main make-up effect on Will Smith was a little extreme, but it added to the comedy of the scene.
Who should see this movie? Will Smith fans get another chance to see him in a comedic role, where he excels. People looking for a good romance will be treated to a couple of them. The action is limited to a couple of physical humor gags, but there is plenty of humor. Hitch is not the best comedy ever, nor is it the best romance, but it is a very good combination, which makes it a great date movie. People looking for a good Valentine’s Day movie do not need to look any farther than Hitch.
