Hitch

Hitch is a 2005 romantic comedy with a cast full of big stars like Will Smith, Eva Mendes, and Kevin James. It was a very well-received film with great ratings, prided on its fantastic mix of romance and comedy. What more would you ask from a rom-com?

Movie Poster
via IMDb

Alex Hitchins is a dating coach that helps men not only find the women of their dreams, but more importantly, helps them keep them. He comes to the rescue of Sara Melas, a tabloid journalist, when a guy wouldn't leave her alone at the bar. There is a spark in the air and Hitch won't give up until he finds out more.

There is kind of a double plot going on throughout the movie. We watch as Hitch helps his friend, Albert, pursue a very well-known woman, Allegra Cole. The two don't look like they would ever be seen together, but with Hitch's tactics, Albert manages to woo her. Although we are watching this relationship grow, the true plot was between Hitch and Sara. Because she works for a tabloid, she is determined to find out who this secret dating coach is that is helping all the men in the city score women and expose him. Once she finds out it's Hitch, their relationship suffers. But like any romantic comedy, they work things out and
end up living happily ever after.

Gender Roles

The roles of the two main characters, Hitch and Sara, are not your typical man and woman. Sara is a savvy tabloid journalist, which are typically read by women, but she is very devoted to her work and not really actively looking to add a man in her life. She sat at a bar one night and while her friend stepped away for a second, a very confident man approached her and started to hit on her. She was used to all of the cheesy pick up lines and pushed him away with the help of Hitch, who jumped in and came to her rescue.

Hitch on the other hand, doesn't really portray a "manly man." Only because it's kind of against the norm for men to be really sentimental and sappy. He is a relationship expert, so to speak, and coaches other men on how to get the woman of their dreams.  It is usually hard for a lot of guys to open up and show their softer side, but for Hitch, that is the key to relationships. 

This film's depiction of gender kind of came as a surprise when considering the expectations of society, although, it isn't rare for romantic comedies to base their main characters on personalities like Hitch and Sara. For example, both Juno and The Forty-Year-Old Virgin showcase characters that are different than you would assume. They are not typical fairytale stories with a beautiful girl getting swept off her feet by a handsome man. After all, these are supposed to be comedies which is why they work so well.


Check out a few of the funniest scenes:

This GIF made for a laugh-out-loud moment. Hitch had an allergic reaction to seafood which lead to his face swelling up to a hilarious size. To stop the swelling, he chugs a bottle of Benadryl and gets pretty intoxicated. It was such a funny scene, I had to watch it twice!

Another great scene worth mentioning was when Hitch was testing Albert's dance skills. He broke out in some crazy dance moves like "making the pizza" and "the Q-tip." Although Hitch didn't approve of any of these, Albert performed them anyway on the date, but only when she wasn't looking.

What makes it a rom-com?

The opening monologue really sets the mood for a love story. Hitch goes on a long rant about relationships including, "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.'" These are all pretty typical ways to get someone to leave you alone. Hitch goes on to explain how to get around these and "get in." 

Another rom-com tactic is a "meeting scene" where the main characters meet in some cheesy way. For Hitch and Sara, that was when he swooped in to rescue her from an annoying guy that wouldn't stop hitting on her. (Clearly he didn't know Hitch's basic principles that all add up to her not wanting to talk to you.) 

A lot of rom-coms feature the plot line where they shouldn't end up together, but of course they always do. Sometimes they go years without talking or see other people, yet somehow always find their way back to each other. Hitch and Sara have a little falling out, but you guessed it, end up together in the end. 

Most feature some sort of confession of love towards the end. Hitch's big moment is when he jumps on top of the car that Sara is driving off in to chase after her. He viewed this as his last chance to show her how he feels. He goes on a long rant about how they are meant to be and it ultimately ends in a kiss.

Last, but not least... the final dance scene! Albert ends up marrying the girl of his dreams that Hitch helped him reel in and at the wedding, they all get in two lines and take turns dancing down the middle of the crowd. It made for a very happy ending and if you're wondering, of course Albert broke out in his classic moves. 

Although these rom-com tactics seem over-used sometimes, it is the consistency that keeps viewers watching. The cheesy moments are what make these movies so good and once you add some comedic moments, they are gold. 

Works Cited:

GIF #1 from https://tenor.com/search/hitch-gifs 

GIF #2 from https://giphy.com/gifs/dance-hitch-7DR19c25GNcbK