BOTTOM LINE: This film is three quarters great romantic comedy that even men can enjoy and one quarter of absolute stupid rubbish. Enjoy the great bits and try to look the other way during those scenes that were obviously made to placate the teen market and stereotypical Hollywood conventions and clichés.

THE GOOD: Romantic comedies that manage to buck conventions are always worth a look and “Hitch” certainly falls in to this category as it tells the story of a date doctor Alex Hitchens (a well-cast Will Smith) who helps men get the girl of their dreams through technique. Although the film unspools with the look and feel of a romantic comedy, there is a lot going on here that men will enjoy, particularly as ‘Hitch’ takes you through the steps to securing the girl you want (wait a minute, is this movie really a chick flick?). Will Smith slips perfectly in to the role of ‘Hitch’, capturing the ultra-smooth and confident qualities required to pick up the girls but also a vulnerability which exploits his early heart-break. Two scenes of note which show off Hitch’s character well include an early scene where he manages to pick up the most beautiful girl in the club even when she is surrounded by ten guys, and the scene of Hitch’s first heartbreak in college when he realises that his needy and clingy behaviour is actually a turn-off for the woman of his dream. Eva Mendes is a very good foil for Hitch as Sara Melas, the good-looking but frosty gossip columnist who gets pulled in by Hitch’s charms. Kevin James as the overweight accountant Albert Brennamen is perhaps the highlight of the film as we watch all his hilarious moments as he tries to seduce the rich and beautiful Allegra Cole (Amber Valetta). “Hitch” is a fun and entertaining film looking at dating and seduction techniques, particularly in the differences between what should work and what does work.

THE BAD: Alas, “Hitch” has some very big problems which will leave you scratching your head as to why these moments ever made it in to the film in the first place. There are scenes of screwball and slapstick comedy which are completely out of place in this film, starting with Hitch’s food allergy scene which on its own is funny but is cringe-worthy against the relatively witty humour on display for the rest of the film. A big close up of a heavily made up and swollen Will Smith’s face as he sucks down Benadryl is terrible. The ending is also a massive cop out. Hitch goes to great pains to explain to his clients throughout the film the exact techniques required to get the girl, usually involving being cool and confident without showing how much you want them straight away, yet in the final scene where he finally becomes ‘vulnerable’ to win Sara, he does the exact opposite is a classic example of Hollywood clichés at their finest. He even jumps on top of her car while she drives away to stop her from leaving and ends up injured when he’s thrown from the car. It’s totally unbelievable and negates everything that has come before. You can see the point being made is that eventually you have to put the techniques away and just be open, but it’s done in such a stupid and Hollywood way that it ruins the film.