The Digest
Alex Hitchens (Will Smith), has a peculiar job. He call himself the "Date Doctor". What exactly does the Date Doctor do? According to him, he creates opportunity. He has spent the last 15 years studying women and he is quite successful when it comes to play matchmaker. His lessons on dancing and kissing rarely fail. He has it down pat that no woman can resist his game. What he doesn't count on is meeting someone who brings out the geek in him. Gone are the perfect dates. Gone is the ability to formulate the perfect sentence. Heck she doesn't even fall for the okie doke, right away. This woman Sara Melas ( Eva Mendes) is a gossip columnist for the New York Daily News and she has seen it all. Besides, her career is more important to her now - a mindset that Alex deduces is a cover up for a broken heart.
Just because Alex is starting to pay attention to his own love life, doesn't mean his work has stopped. In fact he is working on his hardest case ever. Albert (Kevin James) is a nerdy, overweight and shy accountant who just so happens to be in love with one of his firms clients - super celebrity Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta).
Everything is going swimmingly for Hitch until he and Sara's professional lives cross and threaten to not only destroy their relationship, but Albert's chances with Allegra. Will Hitch be able to fix everything before it's too late?
The Dish
Good Lord this movie was so funny! It was so nice seeing Will Smith getting back to his comedic roots! When was the last time we saw him as the lead in something that was almost 100% comedy? I'll wager "The Fresh Prince". He usually intersperses a little comic relief in his characters, but this man had me laughing from start to finish. And when I wasn't laughing at him, Kevin James had me hollering. Eva Mendes (who I will once again point out looks like my best friend Roya)was right at home. I wanted to call her a comedic actress, but then I remembered her dramatic work and I guess she is proving herself to be very versatile.
This movie is a little long for a comedy and honestly I think they could have shaved off about 20-30 minutes.
Hitch - the irony of the name notwithstanding is so much deeper than you catch at first glance. Yes it's a comedy and yes it doesn't take itself too seriously, but I would be remiss to not point out the important message of not shutting yourself off from the world. We've all been hurt. Some more than others, but never give up. Don't be afraid to try again or try for someone "out of your league". What purpose do you really serve by building up an artificial wall of excuses? I'm not talking about "needing a man" or booty calls. I'm talking about good old fashion love.
The Directive
This is a really cute date movie, but couples aren't the only people who check it out. My audience cracked up; cheered; and clapped and not all of us were there with a loved one. And do yourself a favor and stay through the credits.
Hitch yourself to your sweetie and check out this movie (Okay that was a stretch).
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Copyright Kamal "The Diva" Larsuel-Ulbricht, 2005
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Rated PG-13; running time of 120 minutes