It's a shame, Will Smith, with all his appeal, money, and clout in the business doesn't take all he has and use it to do some good for film. Instead of working on cookie cutter romances, and boring action flicks, he could be out there changing how films are made and becoming an influential man like Denzel Washington. Yet, here he sits, on celluloid terrorism, another cookie cutter romance that bears nothing resembling originality or innovation. People like George Clooney, and to a lesser extent Mel Gibson, took all that they've been given and use it to change the face of movie-going. Not that I'm saying every actor has to change the way films are made, but Smith has taken his advantages and used it to have a career of mediocrity. His further example is that of "Hitch" another short title starring a playboy who helps people get in love, and even talks in to the camera with a smug smile in the tradition of films like "Alfie".

But it's hard to feel any sympathy or connection towards someone whose so cocky and arrogant. Hitch is a match maker who helps out basically any schmuck who has an eye on a particular girl, and surprisingly reality never plays a part in his job. No one ever rejects these guys in spite of Hitch's help, and everything is wrapped up in a little bow. And we wonder why people are so delusional in this world. "Hitch" is sadly predictable and cliché to a tee. If only the writers would have added a twist, I could have respected it more. Maybe after all Hitch's claims he couldn't get the girl he wanted, now that would have been a very strong sense of irony practiced in the original "Alfie". Down in its essence, "Hitch" is not as awful as I've heard, but that doesn't mean it's quality. If only Smith could play anyone but himself for once in a film he'd be a man I could call an actor, yet he just decides on playing the same kind of suave smart allecky guy who double takes and attempts to form some hint of comedy.

This guy could make a snuff film and it'd be a box-office smash, but why do people like him so much? He's as one-dimensional here as he was in all of his other films. "Hitch" really is a derivative piece of romance comedy fluff with the over done "match maker/playboy finally meeting his match" formula, and Eva Mendes having to pull up most of the slack charisma-wise, while Kevin James really has to add comedic relief. Problem is, the movie is never as funny as it thinks it is, in fact it's never funny with gags that border on gross to forced, and really clunky dialogue that is made up of basic one-liners, and sappy monologues. The writing is bad enough that it never turns Hitch in to a likable, believable character, and Smith pulls the character off with no conviction.

The rest of his character is pulled off through narration that is so rigid, and self-congratulatory yet so cliché that I was in misery at times. But sadly enough, I really ended up caring more about the sub-plots than Hitch' efforts to get a woman. Had the film focused more on the sub-plots and made Hitch a sort of Cupid like presence, an allegory of a sorts, this would have been a better movie. Since this strived so hard in emulating "Alfie", making Hitch in to an allegory instead of another lovelorn sucker in a cookie cutter romance, would have been something worth watching. It has the potential to be original and unique, but it's too intent on being mediocre, silly, and stupid.

Though Kevin James steals the show, "Hitch" is a basic under- whelming, and really predictable piece of cookie cutter romantic comedy fluff that won't break any ground, though it seems that's what Smith is going for with his career. Not breaking any ground, or being remembered.

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