Hitch

by Rick Curnutte

Richard A. Curnutte, Jr. is the Editor of The Film Journal. He has studied English and Film at Ohio University and The Ohio State University. He is a founding member of the Central Ohio Film Critics Association and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.

Perhaps the warmest surprise of the year so far is Andy Tennant's smart, big-hearted romantic comedy Hitch, starring the enormously charming Will Smith as a love doctor of sorts, a guy who teaches other men how to make that most important of impressions: the first one.

Alex Hitchens is not out to help other guys "score". In fact, when one prospective client confesses he wants to simply sleep with a girl he met, Hitch shuns him, saying, "I help guys who actually like women."

What's so surprising about Hitch is not in its narrative conceit, exactly, though it is refreshing to see a male character so interested in creating real love, rather than small infatuations. Rather, Tennant's film delights because of its rather breezy execution. Though not in the slightest bit ethereal, Hitch still possesses a rather whimsical charm. Its comedy setpieces aren't forced onto the palette like so many contemporary comedies. Hitch, instead, features full-bodied scenes, captured by a director who has never impressed me before, and played out by actors doing some of their best work to date.

Smith I've already mentioned, but Eva Mendes, Kevin James and Amber Valletta complete a rather dazzling romantic quartet. Smith and James have a chemistry almost as affecting as Smith and Mendes do.

And, wonder of all wonders, Kevin James, probably not viewed by most of the film's target audience as a proper love interest, gets the girl he loves, not because of trickery or phoniness, but by being, of all things, himself.

Hitch, against all odds, delivers some insightful bits about how hard communication can be between potential mates. It's all wrapped up in a kind of standard romantic comedy conflict plot (true love can't ever come easy), but even that goes down smooth due to the film's overall charm.

Tennant is certainly not a particularly distinctive director. Someone like Peyton Reed (Down With Love) might have turned Hitch into a truly great fiilm. Still, I couldn't helped but be pleased by such a likeably surprising film.