I was not too eager to see Hitch in the theater, thinking that DVD was just fine for a film such as this; it is after all only a romantic comedy. I was one of the few who thought this way, as Hitch killed at the box office, brining in over $175 million in its theatrical run. After seeing the film on DVD, I can see why it did so well at the box office – it is the ultimate date movie. You get a charismatic Will Smith, a funny Kevin James, and a gorgeous Eva Mendes – the perfect blend for any sure fire enjoyment by all. This is not to say that this is THAT great of a film, but it hits the mark for what it is.
I am sure you know the plot by now… Alex ‘Hitch’ Hitchens (Smith) is the date doctor. He seems to be able to make everyone else’s relationships work, including an odd pairing like Albert (James) and heiress Allegra Cole (Valletta), but cannot seem to have anything go right when around his love interest (Mendes). The comedy ensues, and yada yada yada.
Who can spell out the story better then Sony, so here is their extended synopsis… “Meet Hitch (Will Smith), New York City’s greatest matchmaker. Love is his job and he’ll get you the girl of your dreams in just three easy dates, guaranteed! And that’s exactly what happens when Albert Brennaman (TV’s Kevin James, “The King of Queens”) wins the heart of gorgeous society heiress Allegra Cole (supermodel Amber Valletta). So when tabloid columnist Sara Melas (Eva Mendes, Stuck On You; Once Upon a Time in Mexico) decides to uncover the secret behind the tubby schlub’s success, she’s shocked to discover that Alex Hitchens, the charming young man she’s been seeing, is the legendary date doctor himself. Exposed in a front-page scoop, it’s now up to Alex to try to save Albert and Allegra’s relationship as well as his own. Which only goes to show that just when you think you’ve found true love, there’s always a HITCH.”
Video
Hitch is presented is a very nice HD mastered 2.40:1 Anamorphic Widescreen transfer. The colors are wonderfully accurate, as are skin tones and black levels. The contrast is managed cleanly between day and night scenes, creating a crisp viewing experience. There are a few soft moments, and a couple of noticeable digital artifacts, but for the most part, this is a good looking video transfer.
Audio
This film, being very dialog driven, does not allow the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track to shine like you might hope. The dialog is clean and clear, and there are a few moments where the rear soundstage is used for effects and ambiance. The club/party scenes add some good volume and fill the room with sound, bringing the audio track to life. This is not a great track, but it is good for the film.
Special Features
There are a few extras to make mention of, but all are quite short, and not to powerful. First up, there are a collection of five Featurettes:
- Dance Steps Made Easy shows Kevin James improvising and creating his hilarious dance moves in the “dance” scene with Will Smith. This is very funy, but quite short.
- Love in New York delves into the New York locations chosen to set the romantic tone of the film.
- Hitch Style show how costume-designers worked on creating the “look” of the fashions in the film
- The Dating Expertsgives an experts view on the dating tools used in the film.
- Will Smith’s Red Carpet Race details how Smith entered the Guinness Book of World Record by attending the most movie-premieres within a single 12-hour period.
The only other extras include on this disc are two Deleted Scenes, a “1 Thing” Music Video performed by Amerie, and a Blooper Reel.
Final Thoughts
This DVD is great fun for all. The discs quality is good, and the extras are somewhat fun. I do expect a Special Edition re-release a few months down the road, but for now, this disc is worth picking up.
