“No matter what, no matter when, no matter who, any man has a chance to sweep any woman off her feet. He just needs the right broom.
-- Alex “Hitch” Hitchens

That’s the motto Alex “Hitch” Hitchens (Will Smith) has used to form a legendary – and deliberately anonymous – New York City “date doctor” business where he, for a fee, has helped countless men woo the women of their dreams. Because most men have difficulty finding love because it's hard to be yourself when your "self" thinks you should be someone else. That's where Alex comes in as a tactical adviser who specializes in first impressions -- he customizes and orchestrates a client's first three dates While coaching Albert (Kevin James), a meek accountant who is smitten with a glamorous celebrity, Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta), Hitch finally meets his match in the person of the gorgeous, whip-smart Sara Melas (Eva Mendes), a gossip columnist who follows Allegra’s every move. The ultimate professional bachelor, Hitch suddenly finds himself falling deliriously in love with Sara, a reporter whose biggest scoop could very well be the unmasking of Manhattan’s most famous date doctor.

The movie is downright hilarious from beginning to end. I have a hard time remembering when I laughed so hard at a movie, sure movies like Sideways had me in stitches with its sophisticated humor and wit, Hitch had me rolling in the aisles for the exact opposite reason with more sophomoric humor. But also the movie captures you with the humor that we have all faced, the humor in a first date and trying to make a good first impression. At some point every man has faced the dilemma’s Albert faces and that is where we could have all used a Hitch to help us out of those awkward moments. The movie is insightful in that part and uses that insight to make you laugh uproariously. Sure the movie falls into a few pitfalls of its own as it cannot help avoiding some of the clichés that come with making a romantic comedy, but it is saved by laughter as these moments are lost in the humor of it all.

Will Smith is the perfect choice for Hitch, its his smarmy ways that have many people hating him and his movies, but that is the character Hitch to the T, smarmy, arrogant and just so full of himself. I doubt Will Smith had to delve deep to pull off the part, and he does it with a flair that the movie just needed and keeps you laughing. But if anyone made the movie it was Kevin James who’s portrayal as Albert the good hearted but clumsy and uncouth lover who wins the girl is nothing short of comedic genius. I think everyone can see a little Albert in themselves, not to the extreme that Kevin James puts into it, but just enough that all his pitfalls and mishaps are hilarious. I would suggest this movie to anyone looking for a good laugh or to just to take a date on.
4.5 stars out of 5