BEFORE: This is rapidly turning into the year of the very-average romantic comedy. On the other hand, these films are all making "The Notebook" look really good - that film may end up being the winner of the month. Not that it's a contest - romance shouldn't be a game. Or should it?
Linking from "Celeste & Jesse Forever", Andy Samberg was also in "Hotel Transylvania" with Kevin James.
THE PLOT: While helping his latest client woo the fine lady of his dreams, a professional "date doctor" finds that his game doesn't quite work on the gossip columnist with whom he's smitten.
AFTER: Continuing the theme of people who are running away from love - but tonight it's all about the ladies playing hard to get. And the men who've got no game in wooing them, and need help doing so. So yep, we're right back at "Fake it 'til you make it" once again. The main character is a dating expert who helps men with the faking. Because what's better than a relationship based on deception? Those always work out so well.
But I think the worst offense here is perpetuating the stereotype that women judge men only with a first impression, decide whether they want to sleep with them or not after just one kiss, and that three good dates is all that is necessary to form a lasting bond with a woman. All across the board, this really sells the female gender short. What happened to the notion about women being able to change their minds?
Of course, the dating expert has some learning of his own to do - he eventually learns that by building up a library of slick moves, he's accidentally prevented himself from appearing vulnerable or letting his guard down, and perhaps that's what women really find attractive. The apparent "failures" he has on his own dates are not failures at all, but chances to show that he is fallible and approachable.
What's kind of annoying here is that this film has to deal with broad stereotypes in order to get its point across. Beautiful women are hard to approach. Handsome men are absolute pigs (except the central character, of course). Fat guys dance funny. Plus it relies on too much coincidence - Hitch's main client wants to date his girlfriend's gossip target. So the mysterious "date doctor" she's trying to expose turns out to be the guy she's falling for. Considering how many clients Hitch has, and how many celebrities his girlfriend writes about, it means I haven't seen a coincidence so unlikely since "The Departed".
Also starring Will Smith (last seen in "Anchorman 2"), Eva Mendes (last seen in "Once Upon a Time in Mexico"), Amber Valletta, Adam Arkin (last seen in "The Sessions"), Michael Rapaport (last seen in "Big Fan"), Jeffrey Donovan, Paula Patton (last seen in "Precious"), Nathan Lee Graham, with cameos from Kevin Sussman, Matt Malloy, Joe LoTruglio (last heard in "Wreck-It Ralph"), Matt Servitto.
RATING: 4 out of 10 client referrals
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