Hitch (2005/I)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Andy Tennant

Writer (WGA):

Kevin Bisch (written by)

Release Date:

11 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The cure for the common man.

Plot:

While helping his latest client woo the fine lady of his dreams, a professional "date doctor" finds game doesn't quite work on the gossip columnist with whom he's smitten.

Plot Keywords:

Gossip | New York City | Chrysler Building New York City | Whistling | Advice

Awards:

3 wins & 23 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 8	8:00 PM	TBS
Sun. Nov. 8	10:15 PM	TBS

Cast

Will Smith	...	Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens
Eva Mendes	...	Sara Melas
Kevin James	...	Albert Brennaman
Amber Valletta	...	Allegra Cole
Julie Ann Emery	...	Casey Sedgewick
Adam Arkin	...	Max
Robinne Lee	...	Cressida Baylor
Nathan Lee Graham	...	Geoff
Michael Rapaport	...	Ben
Jeffrey Donovan	...	Vance Munson
Paula Patton	...	Mandy
Philip Bosco	...	Mr. O'Brian
Kevin Sussman	...	Neil
Navia Nguyen	...	Mika
Matt Malloy	...	Pete

Also Known As:

The Last First Kiss (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and some strong sexual references.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | UK:12A (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40751) | Taiwan:PG-12 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Sweden:Btl | New Zealand:M | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:10 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:12A | Netherlands:MG6 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Indonesia:Dewasa

Filming Locations:

12th Street and 7th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Eva Mendes was featured in Will Smith's "Miami" video. She was the girl in the car lip-syncing "Bienvenido a Miami" in the song's chorus. Mendes mentioned this to Smith during rehearsals. But Smith sheepishly admitted that he did not remember her.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Albert and Hitch first meet, Albert spills his soda on the steps. When Hitch sees how pathetic he is and comes over the spill is bigger even though the can had been set back again and didn't continue to spill.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Hitch: Basic Principles - no woman wakes up saying "God, I hope I don't get swept off my feet today!" Now, she might say "This is a really bad time for me," or something like "I just need some space," or my personal favorite "I'm really into my career right now." You believe that...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: An Evening with Mr. Yang (#3.16)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Happy

Pleasantly surprised...

I saw this movie screened last night, and you know what? I liked it. For the most part, it's a by the numbers 'chick flick', but makes no pretensions to be more than that, and in fact, is very good for what it is.

The easy thing to do would be to take potshots at this film; throw out things like 'Fresh Prince', 'getting jiggy with it', and even throw around the whole 'black dude making a white dude cool' angle; but that's too easy isn't it? Like shooting fish in a barrel.

No, this isn't a Wes Anderson film. The humor is rather broad, though much it very funny. Of course you won't see it up for an Oscar (what a tired joke that is); nor does it contain Quientin Tarantion-esquire dialogue or groundbreaking visuals.

But taken for what it is, a romantic comedy, it really is very good. Great chemistry between all the leads. Eve Mendes is gorgeous. And Kevin James steals nearly every scene he's in. It gets a bit sappy towards the end (don't all mainstream romantic comedies though?), but if you're looking for a above average date movie with more than a few belly laughs, this is your film.

A solid B+.