It’s all truly a case of perspective and subjective opinion. Latter-day romantic comedies may be the most sugary cereal of all categories of movie, but for me, taken together, they are as valid a genre as any other that may officially go under another name, but for these purposes (which are fleeting) can be well recognized as the bloody thriller genre. Of course, compared with each other, they’re polar opposites, even when examined from a great distance, of course, but equally worth acknowledging in terms of “viewability” for a whole sector of the population (which would be largely female) as is “The Hitcher” or “Grudge.” I think both sexes are perhaps not equally represented in terms of preference for the gauged-out eyes and screaming horror film but have a more well-balanced gender-rendered fan base.

But I definitely digress…with Valentine’s Day only weeks away, I was thinking that a single (or a basket of several DVDs) of great romantic comedies would make a decidedly wonderful PG/R Valentine’s Day gift, especially for a new romance ( a breather from chocolate panties, if you will, or an “on-the-side” present to go with the more sensual offering…) and to that Cupid-shot end, I’m going to try to come up with a long list of cheery cinematic options and at least return to this site with a list, if not reviews, of several others. “Hitch,” among others, such as “Sleepless in Seattle,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” could be the basket’s centerpiece, both literally and figuratively.

So Will Smith and Eva Mendes may not be the new millennium equivalent of Clark and Colbert, but Smith is an actor of great range and versatility (consider his stretch from“I, Robot” to “Six Degrees of Separation,” his turn as “Ali” to his sweet, surreal muse in “The Legend of Bagger Vance” to his latest brainy everyman in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” and much in between…)moving from his Princedom in BelAir through so many other zip codes with serious acting chops as well as his well known precision comic timing.

If you never saw it in theatres back in 2005, rent “Hitch” to witness Smith’s sexy/cute and convincing moves as “an urban myth” who really exists…as a Manhattan “date doctor” with earnest motives (he believes his own press, and works diligently to spread the gospel according to Hitch, with imagination, humor, of course, deep pockets and a classy sense of values. His timing is perfect, making the movie a very likable, well-paced “textbook” for “how any guy can get any girl,” in which the Fresh Prince of BelAir drives this lightweight but endearing vehicle that makes room for Eva Mendes’s beauty and charm as a comedic actress as well as Kevin James’s incredible ability as a physical

actor as well as one who is much more multi-layered and multi-dimensional than the character he plays as the “King of Queens;” here he’s a klutzy but well-meaning, lovestruck CPA whose far-fetched affection for heiress Allegra Cole (played by Amber Valetta) is portrayed to perfection.

As “Hitch,” Smith polishes his romantic comedy abilities in a warm comedy directed by Andy Tennant with a script by Kevin Bisch which received lukewarm critical reviews but did more than respectably at the box office and ever since as a very strong rental DVD for rental and sale.

What’s great about the film? It’s funny, lightweight, greatly distracting (its best virtue) trendy, New Yorkish, not at all filled with sex (which makes it so perfect for new relationship gifts) as well as not at all “Lost in Translation”… but that’s what makes it so great; it doesn’t try to be any more than it is. Romantic without being overly mushy or cloying – a definite chick flick that men can bear to watch, since Hitch’s philosophies – which come at a high price – about how “any man has a shot with any girl” will make men feel at ease and reinforce women’s not-so-secret beliefs about which actually is the “weaker” sex without screaming it. Mendes, who usually had been cast in “S.W.A.T.”-type movies, gets to put on heels and strut her stuff; Adam Arkin does a great job as her boss at the New York City paper at which he is the gossip columnist; former model Amber Valetta is terrific as an heiress who is ultimately as unpredictably awkward as Albert Brenneman.

What did the critics poke fun at? I’m guessing it’s the fact that the film, though full of laughs and some clever one-liners, is fairly formulaic…but “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” probably followed its genre’s rules. There’s also the “Coach Carter”-genre film, which is “Freedom Writers” without the basketball. Does that make either movie less important or valuable? I don’t think so. How about the “Stand by Me/Lean on Me” genre—that’s the official genre for “Freedom Writers.” “Step Up?” Is that more “Save The Last Dance I and II?” or more “You Got Served”/”Honey?”

I don’t think it matters. We all have guilty pleasures when it comes to movies and “Hitch” definitely fills that niche.

I can’t help it; these movies are like comfort food for some girls. And I guess, I confess,I’m one of them. And I think after a new Range Rover, a Cartier Tank Watch or a 2 carat diamond ring (possibly not in that order) this might make a great Valentine’s Day gift.

With or without the chocolate lingerie.