Smith's first romantic comedy goes off without a 'Hitch'

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

HITCH (PG-13) Two-and-a-Half Stars (Fair-to-Good) Will Smith's charm and Kevin James' comedic performance rise above this haphazardly constructed romantic comedy about a guy who advises men about successful love lives. Eva Mendes co-stars for director Andy Tennant. Columbia, 116 minutes.

It's the handsome actor's first foray into the challenging world of sophisticated romantic comedy, pioneered by the likes of Cary Grant. And Smith succeeds, despite the film's sometimes haphazard, overly long construction.

Alex "Hitch" Hitchens lives and works in downtown Manhattan (though it's not clear how his low-key date-advice business is lucrative enough to allow him his amazing state-of-the-art loft apartment.) Hitch is hired on a strictly word-of-mouth basis by guys looking to woo the potential love of their lives. Commendably, he rejects any sleazy types who want his help to simply score a one-nighter. Hitch is a cupid, not a pimp.

Hitch faces his biggest challenge when he gets a request for help from a nervous, chubby and nerdy accountant named Albert (Kevin James of "The King of Queens"). Albert has set his sights very high. He's fallen hard for a glamorous billionaire celebrity named Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta). Albert is part of the firm that handles her finances. Hitch loves the challenge. He says if he was Michelangelo, he'd consider Albert his Sistine Chapel.

Meanwhile, Hitch is smitten by a smart, sassy, and lovely woman named Sara (Eva Mendes), a newspaper columnist for a New York tabloid. But in his pursuit of her, he finds himself as inept as some of the guys he's hired to help. Then, in one of those coincidences that only seems to happen in Hollywood romantic comedies, Sara writes a column about the surprising public romance between the famous Allegra and the mystery man, Albert. She has no idea Albert is Hitch's client, but causes him no end of trouble.

As Hitch, Smith is graceful, good-natured and relaxed (the most obvious quality he shares with Grant). James counters Smith's restrained sophistication with funny physical comedy. He also creates a most likable character on a seemingly impossible mission. He's just the sort you want to root for in an affair of the heart. Mendes brings intelligence and a no-nonsense aura to Sara, as well as a top-flight baloney detector, which forces Hitch to forego romantic games for honesty.

Though the first-time script by Kevin Bisch is smart and populated with well-drawn characters, director Andy Tennant fails to tighten the pace and build proper momentum. And, at nearly two hours, it's 20 minutes too long. Still, there are enough laughs, winning performances, attractive people and appealing romance to make Hitch an amusing option for the Valentine season.

Rated PG-13, with profanity, innuendo.