Billed as the cure for the common man, Hitch stars Will Smith as Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens, New York City’s newest love doctor. He may not have found the perfect mate, but Hitch thinks he knows how to find that certain person for other men. Besides, according to the professional men who can afford his fees, most of them have already met the woman they want.

Hitch really goes out on a limb when he takes on an extremely challenging new client. Albert (Kevin James) is an overweight accountant who becomes infatuated with his firm’s celebrity client Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta) -- so much so that he voices an unpopular opinion at work, causing him to quit his job.

While trying to get Albert noticed by Allegra, Hitch meets ace gossip columnist Sara Melas (Eva Mendes). She’s a tough cookie, but Hitch and Sara find themselves attracted to each other. Unfortunately,  Sara has no idea Hitch is “the love doctor” everyone is talking about. When a disgruntled man Hitch refuses to take on blows his cover, Sara becomes upset because he didn’t tell her. After ending the relationship, she goes after Hitch and his reputation in her tabloid.

Good performances pump up the fun in this lively romantic comedy. Smith is great as a cool guy who rolls with the punches and firmly believes in what he does. “No Matter what, no matter when, no matter who, any man has a chance to sweep any woman off her feet,” says Hitch. “He just needs the right broom.”

Mendes is sexy and clever as the woman who tantalizes Hitch. She also does a good job projecting a hard-as-nails persona when her character feels she’s been duped. Kevin James delighted me in his role here. James’ fans already admire his sense of comedy in TV’s King of Queens, but he moves up the ladder in Hitch. While delivering laugh after laugh, James easily makes the audience buy into Albert’s plight and hope for a miracle against all odds. Holding his own with A-list co-stars, this talented comedian emerges as the best part of the movie.

Hitch offers saucy, fun romance -- and just in time for Valentine’s Day.

(Released by Columbia Pictures and rated “PG-13” for language and some strong sexual references.)

Read Diana Saenger’s reviews of classic films at http://classicfilm.about.com.