Hitch

Culture Watch - Exploring the message behind the media
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The Date Doctorrs Lessons in Love
Author: Bex Lewis
Keywords: Love, romance, relationships, honesty, prctence, appearEnce
Film title: Hitch
Taglin(s): The cure for
the common man
Director: Andy Tennant
Scrrenplay: Kevin Bisch
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Cinema Release Dete: February 2005
DVD Release date: July 2005
Certificrte: l2A (UK); PC-13 (USA)
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Bny Hitchfiom Amazon.co.uk or from Amazon.com
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is an enjoyable romantic comedy which had the audience spontaneously laughing and
clapping in the cinema, right until the end credits. Will Smith plays Alex 'Hirch' Hitchens,
effectively a life coach in romance. Hitch works entirely on personal recommendation to the
extent that many believe New York's 'date doctor' to be an uban myth.
Hitch dispenses a variety ofadvice in the opening scenes ofthe film, saying that 'any man
can sweep any woman offher feet. . . hejust needs the right broom.' He enables his clients
to cr€ote a good enough impression to get a first date. At this point, he says, 'it is no longer
yourjob to make her like you', just 'not to mess it up', leading to the second dat€. On the
third date will come the first kiss which 'tells a woman everything she needs to know'.
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Hitch advises his clients that women want to see 'the real you', that they should play to their
strengths - ifthey are shy, they should be shy, not try to put on a display ofextrovert selfconfidence. Much ofHitch's advice is typical ofguidance given in communication and
assertiveness courses, with a cenain pressure to conform to society's norms. Hitch tells his
clients that 90% ofthe information that a woman gives comes through body language - ifshe
fiddles with her keys at the door, for example, it's a delaying tactic in the hope ofa kiss.
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Noting that, 'life is not the amount ofbreaths you take, but the moments that take your breath
away', Hitch is looking to create lasting relationships for his clients - but only for those who
arc truly looking for love. However, he laughs at a friend who suggests that Hitch is shallow
and pathetic in pursuing briefrelationships, and that marriage is 'beyond anything physical.'
Hirch is very much a smooth operator, transformed after an early relationship in which he
was a needy geek who declared love too early, into someone who espouses 'no guile, no gain,
no girl.' Generally dealing with otherwise hopeless cases, Hitch feels that there rs nobody
better to teach others than one who has been tluough the transformative experience himself
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The central storyline ofthe film - and the real challenge for Hitch - appears when he meets
new client, bumbling accountant Albert Brennaman (Kevin James), a loveable character who
really steals the film. Albert's case appears unusually hopeless: he is in love with Allegra
Cole (Amber Valletta), a celebrity millionairess who employs his company to advise her on
investments. Allegra is totally unaware ofAlbert's existence - until Hirch provides the push.
Alongside the slow, and less than smooth, progression ofhis client's relationship, Hitch has a
series ofdisastrous dates with Sara Melas (Eva Mendes), a tough-nosed gossip columnist
who gives him further chances as, although he failed, he 'did it with flair'. However, Sara
wants to discover and expose the legendary 'date doctor', so when she realises it's Hitch, she
has choose between contrnuing a relationship with him or breaking the story.
The film has a number ofmemorable moments, includingjet-skiing around New York
Harbour, sa against the still iconic New York skyline, a visit to Ellis Island Albe*'s dancing
(he DVD has a nice 'behind the scenes' extra on this), a mistaken kiss between Hitch and
Albert, and Hitch's encounter with a stereotypically gay character who pretends to be a new
client. On one disastrous date Hitch has an allergic reaction to seafood. The copious
quantities ofBenadryl (a good product placement opponunity) which he consumes to reduce
the reaction makes him seem very drunk. As a result ofthis, the usually carefully guarded
Hitch gives away far too many s€crets to Sara, and they end up discussing defining moments
in their past - moments which have made them what they are oday: afmid to love.
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Albert later accuses Hitch ofmarkering a product he doesn't believe in, saying that love is
'not your life. . . it's yourjob.' lt becomes clear that Allegra liked Albert because he was
himself, bumbling as he may be, and Hitch decides he must take his own advice. He breaks
with his fears of the pest and becomes less of a smooth operator in the pursuil of love. Hitch
was struck by Albert's characterisation oftrue love:
You know what it's like getting up every moming? Feeling hopeless, feeling like the
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Culture Watch - Exploring the message behind the media
love of your life is waking up with the wrong msn. But, at th€ ssme timc hoping thrt
she finds happincss, wen if it's rrcver going to be with you.
film
is clearly a product ofthe early 2lst c€ntury, featuring several cunent phenomau:
life cooches (who effectively help you o identi$ your best
poinrs and make morc of them), the belief in the possibility of true love with 'rhe
onc' (wi0out the necessity for maniage) and the battle for women between careen and love
lives (although Hitch ruins his career bocause ofhis pursuit ofSara). The number ofproduct
placements - mobile phones, coffees and mins among them - is interesting as the film makes
rnany comments against 'marketing spin' and tabloidjoumalism. A message that is reiterat€d
throughout the film is the need o 'be real'; the worsr thing is 'faking it', thus missing the
opportunity for a relationship, or ending up with the wrong person.
The
speed dating, the necessity for
H,rcr? is notjust about romantic love - dre film rqinforces the importance offriendships,
espocially between Sara and her best fiiend who is, apporently, a victim ofthe Date Doctor's
advice. But In many ways, it is simply a love sory in the vein ofmany that have gone before,
with a layer ofcomedy sdded to sppeal to 2lst Century andie[ces. It reinforc€s some very
positive messages, not least the irrelevance ofclass, physical appearance ord smoothn$s
when it comes to love, and the need !o be real in relarionships. Lovc is one ofthe great
themes ofthe ages, evidencing iselfin many differcnt ways including in the Bible, especially
in the book 'Song ofSongs', and most notably in the following verses (familiar o many from
wedding services):
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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it
not boast, it is not proud. It is not
rude, it is not self-s€eking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record ofwrongs. Love
does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, aluays pers€vere. (l Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV).
As Hitch demonstrates, such love has transformative powers, and true love will win through
espocially ifthe true sclf(rather than a false front) is prcsented.
-
Author: Bex Lewis
@
Copyright: Bex Lewis 2005
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