Hitch (2005/I)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Andy Tennant

Writer (WGA):

Kevin Bisch (written by)

Release Date:

11 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The cure for the common man.

Plot:

While helping his latest client woo the fine lady of his dreams, a professional "date doctor" finds game doesn't quite work on the gossip columnist with whom he's smitten.

Plot Keywords:

Gossip | New York City | Empire State Building New York | Judo | Secret

Awards:

3 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Will Smith	...	Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens
Eva Mendes	...	Sara Melas
Kevin James	...	Albert Brennaman
Amber Valletta	...	Allegra Cole
Julie Ann Emery	...	Casey Sedgewick
Adam Arkin	...	Max
Robinne Lee	...	Cressida Baylor
Nathan Lee Graham	...	Geoff
Michael Rapaport	...	Ben
Jeffrey Donovan	...	Vance Munson
Paula Patton	...	Mandy
Philip Bosco	...	Mr. O'Brian
Kevin Sussman	...	Neil
Navia Nguyen	...	Mika
Matt Malloy	...	Pete
Maria Thayer	...	Lisa
Ato Essandoh	...	Tanis
Marlyne Afflack	...	Stephanie (as Nayokah Afflack)
Jack Hartnett	...	Tom Reda
David Wike	...	Chip
Frederick B. Owens	...	Larry
Jenna Stern	...	Louise
Austin Lysy	...	Magnus Forrester
Adam LeFevre	...	Speed Dating Guy
Joe Lo Truglio	...	Music Lover Guy
Ptolemy Slocum	...	Ron
Kahan James	...	Guy Nearby
Matt Servitto	...	Eddie
Amy Hohn	...	Marla
Mimi Weddell	...	Grandma Wellington (as Mimi 'Rogers' Weddell)
Maulik Pancholy	...	Raoul
Caprice Benedetti	...	Gorgeous Wife
Tony Travis	...	Nebishy Husband
Mercedes Renard	...	Maria Melas Reda
Jose Llana	...	Ross
Niels Koizumi	...	Sous Chef
Ryan Cross	...	Charles Wellington
Tobias Truvillion	...	Kurt
Jeffrey Carlson	...	Egon
Henry Binje	...	Zak
Henry Haile	...	Zak
Rain Phoenix	...	Kate
Remy K. Selma	...	Newsguy (as Remy Selma)
Beau Sia	...	Drugstore Clerk
Mika Nishida	...	Waxer
Trevor Oswalt	...	Messenger
Darrell Foster	...	Bartender
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Douglas J. Aguirre	...	Sports Fan in Mercedes Benz (uncredited)
Michalina Almindo	...	Club Girl (uncredited)
Casper Andreas	...	Sebastian (uncredited)
Brielle Barbusca	...	Class Trip (uncredited)
Jesse Bernstein	...	Restaurant Patron / Pedestrian (uncredited)
Adam Bertocci	...	Preppy College Student (uncredited)
Andre Blair	...	Hitch's Friend (uncredited)
Aneikit Bonnel	...	Coca Cola Girl (uncredited)
Keith Chambers	...	Bartender #2 (uncredited)
Valbona Coba	...	Bar Girl (uncredited)
Thomas Daniel	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Maria-Jose Davo	...	Club Girl (uncredited)
Vincent De Paul	...	Amp Lounge Man (uncredited)
Michelle DiBenedetti	...	First Date Couple (uncredited)
Cesar Di Parra	...	Flyers Guy (uncredited)
Ellizzette Duvall	...	Pedestrian / Bar Patron / Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Scott Hatfield	...	Albert's Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Lou Irizarry	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Rick Kain	...	Party Goer (uncredited)
Arnold Y. Kim	...	Deli Worker (uncredited)
Bill Kotsatos	...	Paparazzi #1 (uncredited)
Alexa Lane	...	Yoga Student (uncredited)
Debbie Lang	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Evan Leone	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Joanna Lu	...	Elevator Girl (uncredited)
Rebecca Mader	...	Kim (uncredited)
Tanda Mercer	...	Fan Leaving MSG (uncredited)
Amy Metroka	...	Female Speed Dater (uncredited)
Kevin Kean Murphy	...	Member of the Board (uncredited)
John O. Nelson	...	Statistician (uncredited)
Dwight Allen O'Neal	...	Female 3 Best Friend (uncredited)
Jennifer Pedersen	...	Bar Girl (uncredited)
Nicolas Quilter	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Dawn Ressy	...	College Student (uncredited)
Trevor Richardson	...	Groomsman (uncredited)
Amro Salama	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Jennifer Scott	...	Speed Dater (uncredited)
Cameron Stevens	...	Rower (uncredited)
Jaclyn Tommer	...	Girl in candy store (uncredited)
Tim Tyrrell	...	Speed Dater #14 (uncredited)
Olivia Weston	...	Beautiful Yatch Owner (uncredited)
Kyle Willshire	...	Man Exiting Madison Square Garden (uncredited)
Joe Wissler	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Alexander Wraith	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Shane Wright	...	Fan Leaving MSG (uncredited)
Dianne Zaremba	...	Sara's Co-Worker (uncredited)

Directed by
Andy Tennant

Writing credits (WGA)
Kevin Bisch		(written by)

Produced by
James Lassiter	....	producer
Wink Mordaunt	....	executive producer
Will Smith	....	producer
Michael Tadross	....	executive producer
Teddy Zee	....	producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
Andrew Dunn		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Troy Takaki
Tracey Wadmore-Smith

Casting by
Kathleen Chopin

Production Design by
Jane Musky

Art Direction by
Patricia Woodbridge		(as B. Patricia Woodbridge)

Set Decoration by
Ellen Christiansen

Costume Design by
Marlene Stewart

Makeup Department
Pierce Austin	....	department head hair
Richard Dean	....	makeup artist: Ms. Mendes and Ms. Valletta
Judy Murdock	....	department head makeup
Rod Ortega	....	hair stylist: Ms. Mendes (as Rodney A. Ortega)
Brian Sheratt	....	hair stylist (as Brian R. Sherratt)
Toy Van Lierop	....	key makeup artist (as Toy R. Van Lierop)
Kenneth Walker	....	hair stylist
Carla Antonino	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Corrina Duran	....	special makeup effects assistant: Press Junket (uncredited)
Todd Kleitsch	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Justin Moritt	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Catherine Bloch	....	dga trainee
Frank Capra III	....	second unit director
Robert Dickerson Jr.	....	additional second assistant director
Murphy Occhino	....	second second assistant director
Michael Pitt	....	second assistant director
Scott Printz	....	first assistant director
Adam T. Weisinger	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Joseph Alfieri	....	construction coordinator (as Joseph S. Alfieri)
Henry Antonacchio	....	construction foreman
Toni Barton	....	assistant art director (as Toni L. Burton)
Michael Jortner	....	assistant property master
Darrell K. Keister	....	assistant art director
Philip Kennedy	....	scenic chargeperson
Martin Lasowitz	....	property master
Barbra Matis	....	set designer
Addison Pettit	....	assistant art director (as Addison Foster Pettit)
Patricia Walker	....	scenic chargeperson
Dave Weinman	....	leadman
Alyson Wellins	....	art department coordinator
Greg Aharoni	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Wayne Brackett	....	set dresser (uncredited)
David Cooney	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Damian J. Costa	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Rena DeAngelo	....	assistant set decorator (uncredited)
Joseph DeLuca	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)
Sarah Dennis	....	buyer (uncredited)
Lauren Doner	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Daniel Geary	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Greco	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Laura Iler	....	props (uncredited)
Michael Kall	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Derrick Kardos	....	graphic designer: props (uncredited)
Eric Lewin	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Jeff Naparstek	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Daniel Rodriguez	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Philip Saccio Jr.	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Philip Saccio	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Michael Scarola	....	key construction grip (uncredited)
Andrea Swistak	....	prop assistant (uncredited)
Joseph Michael Tenga	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Chris Vogt	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Robert Vogt	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ulrika Akander	....	dialogue editor
Bill W. Benton	....	supervising sound mixer
Gloria D'Alessandro	....	dialogue editor
Teri E. Dorman	....	dialogue supervisor
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	supervising sound mixer
Matthew Harrison	....	foley editor
Allan Hartz	....	dialogue editor (as Allen Hartz)
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Andrea Horta	....	adr editor
Suhail Kafity	....	supervising sound editor (as Suhail F. Kafity)
Susan Kurtz	....	adr editor
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Melissa Lytle	....	assistant sound editor
Kim Maitland	....	boom operator
Victoria Martin	....	foley editor
F. Hudson Miller	....	sound effects editor
T.J. O'Mara	....	production sound mixer (as Terence J. O'Mara)
R.J. Palmer	....	sound effects editor
Douglas Parker	....	assistant sound editor
Nancy Parker	....	foley artist
Brian Ruberg	....	foley mixer
Ron Vignone	....	assistant sound editor
George Watters II	....	supervising sound editor
Christopher T. Welch	....	adr supervisor
Joe White	....	boom operator (as Joseph White Jr.)
Gary Wright	....	sound effects editor
Paul J. Zydel	....	adr mixer (as Paul Zydel)

Special Effects by
Conrad V. Brink Jr.	....	special effects (as Conrad Brink)

Visual Effects by
Mat Beck	....	visual effects supervisor: Entity FX
Leighton Greer	....	visual effects producer: Entity FX
Yoshiko Hirata	....	digital artist: Entity FX
Eli Jarra	....	digital effects supervisor: Entity FX
Mark Alan Loso	....	compositor: Entity FX (as Mark Loso)
Janice Lee	....	Flame artist (uncredited)
Sara Lee	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Terry Shigemitsu	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunt double
Danielle Arcate	....	stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunt coordinator
Frank Ferrara	....	stunt coordinator
Gino Lucci	....	stunts
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunts
Jodi Michelle Pynn	....	stunts (as Jodi Pynn)
Greg Wattkis	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Keith Bunting	....	dolly grip
Geb Byers	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Steve Comesky	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Gene Engels	....	chief lighting technician
James V. Gartland	....	dolly grip
Larry Huston	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Lee Kazista	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
David Knox	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Michelle Mader	....	video assist
Gus Magalios	....	second grip (as Constantine Gus Magalios)
Frances 'Buddy' McBride	....	key rigging gaffer (as Francis J. McBride)
Jim McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Jim McConkey	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Billy Patsos	....	key rigging grip (as William Patsos)
George Patsos	....	key grip
John Romer	....	camera loader
Mark Schwartzbard	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Barry Wetcher	....	still photographer
Jon Delgado	....	electrician (uncredited)
Chris Drechsler	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael Gallart	....	lighting console operator (uncredited)
Tim McAuliffe	....	electrician (uncredited)
Mark Melendez	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
John Milcetic	....	company electrician (uncredited)
Christopher Murphy	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
David Norris	....	aerial director of photography (uncredited)
Justin Panzanaro	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Darren Ryan	....	24 frame video operator (uncredited)
Lewis Sadler	....	company electrician (uncredited)
Joel Tishcoff	....	rigging best boy (uncredited)
J. Dan Wright	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Meredith Jacobson	....	extras casting (as Meredith Jacobson Marciano)
Liz Peterson	....	casting assistant
Eric Zuckerman	....	casting associate
Barbara McNamara	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tommy Boyer	....	costumer: Mr. Smith
Pashelle Clayton-Robinson	....	costume supervisor (as Pashelle Clayton)
Marta Font	....	key costumer
Ira M. Hammons-Glass	....	assistant costume designer
Winsome G. McKoy	....	costume supervisor
Christopher Peterson	....	assistant costume designer
Rhonney Greene	....	wardrobe production assistant (uncredited)
Addie Hall	....	costume ager/dyer (uncredited)
Jessica Jorde	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Debbie Lucas	....	seamstress (uncredited)
Estella Marie	....	additional seamstress (uncredited)
Mary Margaret O'Neill	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Sarah Babineau	....	assistant editor
Angela M. Catanzaro	....	assistant editor (as Angela Catanzaro)
Matt Evans	....	first assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Skip Kimball	....	digital color timer
Jenny Brandt	....	digital intermediate project manager (uncredited)
Steve Calalang	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)
Skip Kimball	....	digital intermediate colorist (uncredited)
Chris Regan	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Tony Finno	....	music preparation
Sandra Park	....	music contractor
Michael T. Ryan	....	music editor
Alan Elliott	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Pilar McCurry	....	executive soundtrack producer (uncredited)
Pilar McCurry	....	music supervisor (uncredited)
Jason Stasium	....	digital score recordist (uncredited)
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Peter Clores	....	transportation co-captain (as Peter J. Clores)
Steven R. Hammond	....	transportation captain (as Steve R. Hammond)

Other crew
Jana Babatunde-Bey	....	assistant: Mr. Smith
Aneikit Bonnel	....	assistant: Mr. Zee
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot (as Al Cerullo Jr.)
Lori M. Cincotta	....	assistant: Mr. Tennant (as Lori Cincotta)
Carlos Constanzo	....	assistant: Mr. Smith
Jacq Donegan	....	production secretary
David Dreishpoon	....	craft service
Tracy Ershow	....	assistant: Mr. Tennant
Chris George	....	assistant location manager (as Christopher George)
Sheldon Glabman	....	medic (as Sheldon Glabman M.D.)
Michael Hekmat	....	production assistant
Rodney 'Bear' Jackson	....	production assistant (as Rodney M. Jackson)
Autumn Jimerson	....	assistant: Mr. Lassiter
Darren E. Johnson	....	production assistant
Malaika Johnson	....	production assistant
Paul Kramer	....	location manager
Julie Kuehndorf	....	unit publicist
Terry Ladin	....	production coordinator
Jason Laricchia	....	assistant: Mr. James
Thomas K. Lee	....	production assistant (as Thomas Lee)
Theresa Marsh	....	assistant accountant (as Theresa L. Marsh)
Adam S. Miller	....	production assistant (as Adam Miller)
Kory O'Donnell	....	assistant production coordinator
Paul Polow	....	production assistant
Cira Sims	....	assistant: Mr. Lassiter
Fay Smith	....	assistant: Mr. Zee
Robin Squibb	....	script supervisor
Jillian Stein	....	assistant: Ms. Mendes
Michael Tadross Jr.	....	assistant: Mr. Tadross
Doug Webster	....	production assistant (as John Douglas Webster)
Nadine F. Wilson	....	production accountant (as Nadine Wilson)
Charbel Youssef	....	assistant: Ms. Mordaunt
Adam Baer	....	location scout (uncredited)
Adam Brown	....	marine coordinator (uncredited)
Felix Chen	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Eric M. Cyphers	....	script coordinator (uncredited)
Jason Farrar	....	location scout (uncredited)
James Feldman	....	production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Ryan Ferguson	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Chris George	....	location manager: second unit (uncredited)
Joe Guest	....	location scout (uncredited)
Jule Ann Jappe	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Darren E. Johnson	....	assistant: Michael Tadross (uncredited)
Matthew Kania	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Steve Loff	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Warner Loughlin	....	acting coach (uncredited)
Jacqueline Lovell	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Randy Manion	....	location scout (uncredited)
Richard Mast	....	accounting clerk (uncredited)
Davin Michaels	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Joseph O'Keefe	....	stand-in: Kevin James (uncredited)
John Perez	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Walter A. Perez	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Aaron Resch	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Christina I. Rodriguez	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Vernon Rodriquez	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Andrew Saxe	....	location scout (uncredited)
William Sepulveda	....	craft service (uncredited)
Maurice Sessoms	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Julie Solomon	....	location scout (uncredited)
Krystle Sosa	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Eugene Stamos	....	additional craft service (uncredited)
Marce Sterner	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Jackson Waite	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Steven Wargo	....	craft service (uncredited)
Rebecca White	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
John Whitley	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Georgia Witkin	....	special thanks (as Dr. Georgia Witkin)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures)
• Overbrook Entertainment

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2008) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Buena Vista International (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Warner Filmes de Portugal (2005) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2008) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• RTL Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL5)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Sony Pictures Television (2006) (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• Entity FX (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Columbia Records  soundtrack on (as Columbia)
• DNA Studio  web site design (uncredited)
• Kodak  motion picture film
• MTS Inc.  Tower Records used with permission of
• Madison Square Garden  special thanks
• Modern VideoFilm  digital intermediate (as Modern Videofilm)
• NBA Entertainment  production assistance provided by
• NYP Holdings  New York Post courtesy of
• National Park Service Statue of Liberty N.M., Ellis Island  special thanks
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  special thanks
• New York Knicks  special thanks
• New York Police Department (NYPD)  special thanks (as N.Y.C. Police Department)
• Orbit Digital  Avids (uncredited)
• Panavision  cameras and lenses by
• Picture Mill, The  main and end titles (as Picture Mill)
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities (uncredited)
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack on
• Sony Pictures Stock Footage  stock footage
• Sony Pictures Studios  post sound services provided by (as Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, California)
• Technicolor  color
• The McKenna Brothers  craft service (as McKenna Brothers)
• Tomkats Catering  catering (as Tomkats Movie Catering)

Also Known As:

The Last First Kiss (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and some strong sexual references.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | UK:12A (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40751) | Taiwan:PG-12 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Sweden:Btl | New Zealand:M | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:10 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:12A | Netherlands:MG6 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Indonesia:Dewasa

Filming Locations:

12th Street and 7th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Eva Mendes was featured in Will Smith's "Miami" video. She was the girl in the car lip-syncing "Bienvenido a Miami" in the song's chorus. Mendes mentioned this to Smith during rehearsals. But Smith sheepishly admitted that he did not remember her.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sara and friend are in the store shopping, Sara has her purse hanging from her shoulder. The buckle on the purse strap changes positions from the front to the back.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Hitch: Basic Principles - no woman wakes up saying "God, I hope I don't get swept off my feet today!" Now, she might say "This is a really bad time for me," or something like "I just need some space," or my personal favorite "I'm really into my career right now." You believe that...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Soundtrack:

Never Gonna Let You Go (She's a Keepa)

Often Very Funny and Worth Watching

Will Smith is Alex "Hitch" Hitchens, a long-time bachelor who has become known as the New York City "date doctor" who charges to help men get the women of their dreams. Although he helps all these other men, he somehow is not able to have nearly as much success with Sara (Eva Mendes), the woman he himself loves.

Hitch is a safe yet funny and entertaining romantic comedy. The premise sounds pretty good and the execution is also pretty good. Yes, it is very predictable and kind of cheesy. However, that doesn't mean it isn't entertaining. I think Hitch is better than most romantic comedies that have come out in the past year because the characters are likable and Smith & Mendes have enough chemistry together to make the film work. Will Smith is very charming as Hitch. He plays the role well and he never gets annoying. It's also nice to see him in a film that doesn't involve a bunch of things blowing up. Eva Mendes also gives a pretty good performance and she is also very pretty.

Surprisingly, the best thing about Hitch is Kevin James. His performance is funny and also pretty realistic. The only problem is that most of his scenes appear in the trailer and this lessens the effect. I never really liked him before but now I hope he makes more movie appearances. Out of the four main actors, Amber Valletta is the weakest. She gives an average performance and she just doesn't fit well with the other three. The rest of the supporting actors are also pretty funny, especially the customers that ask Hitch for help.

The only problem I really have with Hitch is that it plays it too safe. If it was a little more edgier than the film could have been really good but it still stands an enjoyable romantic comedy. It's not really surprising that the film is safe since Andy Tennant is the director. He directed It Takes Two and Sweet Home Alabama. He's like the king of harmless, fluff films and Hitch is his best work to date. Another thing that bothered me was the running time. 118 minutes is too long for a predictable story and it does take a toll on the audience. I think it's bad since the story is by-the-numbers and the film takes awhile to reach obvious places. If it was a little shorter, than it would have been fine. In the end, Hitch is an enjoyable romantic comedy and one of the funniest films I have seen this year. Rating 8/10