Hitch

With a name like Hitch we knew that this film was either going to be a light 
romantic comedy or a documentary about your local Tow and Go -- or possibly 
the sequel to Deliverance. But while the antics of Sy the tow truck guy or Ned 
Beatty's shotgun wedding would make for good cinema -- we are instead 
presented with another excellent film featuring the relatively unknown 
Will Smith (fresh off his most recent cinematic triumph: Wild Wild West). 

Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens played by Will 'Fresh Prince' Smith is the infamous Date 
Doctor of New York City. Working by referral only he's helping losers like you, 
and (sigh) ok me too, meet up with, talk to and eventually sleep with women who 
are way out of their league. Sounds sinister right? It's not, Alex is a good 
guy overall. HeÕs not a womanizer and as a matter of fact he turns away 
customers if he feels that they're motives aren't pure. He just wants to help 
guys who wouldn't have a chance otherwise, for a nice tidy fee...

Hitch himself comes from humble roots, a (sigh) flashback to his college days 
shows an awkward and geeky Alexander Hitchens falling in love with and getting 
his heart broken by a coed classmate. This naturally scars Alex deeply and he's 
unable to really get close to any woman again after that. 

That is until he comes across Sara (played by Eva Mendez). She's a lady in 
distress but she doesn't want, doesn't need, will not accept - why the hell 
won't you just go away - help. Like Hitch, she's a connoisseur of the playful
bantering that is involved in picking up (and being picked up by) members of
the opposite sex. Alex -- Unstoppable Force. Sara -- Immoveable object, the
stereotypes are set and we're ready for tension and battle for the rest of the
film right? Nope, Sara caves in (really, when Will Smith is after you what are
you supposed to do?). Alex watches in horror as his best tricks, lines and
setups fail him and possibly even more frightening, Sara falls deeper and
deeper in love with him, and he with her.

This movie comes up with some pretty unexpected ways to handle a light 
romantic comedy. All the same themes are there, but overall it was pretty 
creative, and not nearly as formulaic as you might expect. It deals with some 
advanced themes and actually presents you with some nuggets of wisdom to 
think about (and talk about with your date afterwards, guys - HINT-HINT). The 
previews for the film suggested a Ben Stiller 'Meet the Parents' vibe, which 
this isn't. Very little slapstick comedy, just good one-liners and fat guys
dancin' with pretty ladies and, in the end, you just canÕ' beat that.


Starring: Will Smith
Directed By: Andy Tennant
Rated: PG-13
Hitch opens Friday February 11th

Dave can be reached at dkerr@detroitbuzz.com