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Hitch By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- It's refreshing to come across a light romance of the kind they don't make much anymore. Indeed, "Hitch" (Columbia) is an entertaining, if flawed, old-fashioned comedy about a highly successful "date doctor" Alex Hitchens (Will Smith) who helps shy men woo the women they're too timid to approach. (He was a nerdy loser in school, and after his first love went sour, he resolved to learn the ways of women so he wouldn't be hurt again.) We see several of his success stories under the opening credits. In each case, Hitch's clever ministrations help his clients successfully score with the women of their dreams. We also see that he has standards, when later he refuses to help the loathsome Vance (Jeffrey Donovan), a misogynistic pig. Hitch only helps men who truly love the women they're after. At present, he's helping the rotund and bumbling Albert (Kevin James) who is an accountant on the staff of the beautiful heiress and philanthropist Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta). Albert bravely backs up Allegra at a board meeting where she tries for the first time to assert herself with the board chairman (Philip Bosco), and endears himself to her. At a party, Hitch meets a tabloid newspaper gossip columnist, Sara Melas (Eva Mendes), and uses some of his own technique to make her acquaintance. Sara's so involved in her career and her life so empty that her editor (Adam Arkin) is prompted to advise, "There's more to life than watching other people live it." It happens that Sara is hot on the journalistic trail of Allegra, leading to predictable complications. Hitch and Sara go out on a date, and though disastrous things happen, it's clear they like each other. Throughout their courtship, Hitch is a total gentleman. When he passes out in Sara's apartment after a severe allergy attack at the Fulton Fish market, he sleeps on her coach, with her watching over him solicitously. When she wakens in the morning to find him gone and assumes the worst, it turns out he's just out buying her breakfast as a thank-you. Later, she figures out that the famous (though anonymous) "date doctor" had a hand in bringing Allegra and Albert together, and sets out to uncover the doctor's identity, never dreaming that it's Hitch. Andy Tennant's film is nicely devoid of outright sexual situations, and possesses a good moral tone. What eventually emerges is the fact that Hitch -- for all his skill -- is simply helping love along, and that it's best not to pretend to be something you're not. But Kevin Bisch's script just misses being a total success due to some implausible plot turns. Nora Ephron's scripts for "You've Got Mail" and "Sleepless in Seattle," which "Hitch" resembles in its tone, showed a surer command of the genre. Sara, for instance, seems both too passive for a hard-nosed gossip columnist in the first place, then too vindictive and heartless when she thinks the worst of Hitch. Some of the gags are way too broad for the realistic foundation so essential to the best comedies. Is the klutzy Albert really so nonplussed when speaking with Allegra on the phone that he becomes a bumbling basket case, slipping and sliding on beads, and knocking things over willy-nilly? Smith proves delightfully adept at light comedy, and makes the film eminently watchable. His addresses to the camera are not unlike Jude Law's in the recent remake of "Alfie." He and other principals' performances are immensely appealing. Though Mendes loses some of the audience's empathy when she turns on Hitch unfairly, for the most part, she's got a down-to-earth, "real" quality that make her a good match for Smith. Valetta projects a good deal of warmth and decency as the object of Albert's affection, and James is a hoot when he's not burdened with too much shtick. His standout moments are when he demonstrates how be plans to cut on a rug on the dance floor with Allegra, and later how he'll kiss her goodnight. Andrew Dunn's New York location photography is just about the best view of the city after Sept. 11, 2001, that has been filmed so far, and it succeeds in restoring much of the glamour to the Big Apple. Parts of it were even filmed at the marina very near the site of the former World Trade Center, and even Ellis Island, where Hitch takes Sara on their first date. Though it wouldn't be entirely accurate to say Tennant pulls off the film without a hitch, you'll still find plenty to enjoy here. The film contains a few instances of profanity, rough, and crude language, one brief sexual situation, adult thematic elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. - - - Forbes is director of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. END Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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