There’s a moment early on in Hitch where the chemistry between co-stars Will Smith and Kevin James bubbles out of the beaker and explodes, lighting up the screen with the slick and thoroughly affable charm that characterizes the rest of the movie.

Mouth gaping as if witnessing a crime, Alex “Hitch” Hitchens (Smith) stares in disbelief at Albert’s (James) dance steps. But Albert, as oblivious as an early-round American Idol contestant, continues to boogie down, proudly announcing daffy dance moves like “doin’ the Q-tip” or “makin’ the pizzas.”

And when the bumbling 300-pound white boy graciously stops dance-miming, Hitch cuts him down with a vintage Will Smith line reminiscent of his Fresh Prince days, saying, “Ain’t nobody need no pizza, they got food there.”

This look-at-the-goofy-white-guy moment happens to be one of the film’s biggest laughs, but by no means typifies the brand of humor. Hitch features a delightful mix of Carlton Banks-style clueless goof-ups, effective slapstick and hormone-driven, snappy dialogue, though the last intermittently falls short.

Hitch serves the male population of New York as a professional “date doctor,” helping well-intentioned doofuses like Albert hook the women of their dreams. His love motto goes, “Any man can sweep any woman off her feet, you just need the right broom.”

The doc’s primary patient, the luckless accountant Albert, has fallen deeply in love with his wealthy socialite client, Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta, Raising Helen). Around the same time he begins helping Albert, Hitch finds his own lovely lady to woo, the fiercely independent gossip columnist, Sara (Eva Mendes, Stuck on You).

The Mendes-Smith chemistry isn’t exactly as smooth as Ryan-Hanks or as charged as Roberts-Gere, but the pair makes it work with a whole lotta ’tude.

Though the characters are clearly infatuated from the get-go, their initial meeting features an overload of witty banter at the expense of sincerity. But, fear not, once the two start dating the fun gets started.

The cunning bachelor prides himself on thoroughly planning out his many rendezvous with the opposite sex. Unfortunately, the Hitch commercials don’t do the film any favors, particularly when he begins courting Sara. Some of the best punch lines that conclude Hitch’s well-conceived but ultimately ill-fated plans are shown ad nauseam on the Hitch TV spots that seemingly run round the clock. Try to avert your eyes from the television when one of these ads comes on if you plan on seeing the movie.

These commercials also make the film seem a lot more one-dimensional and silly than it is. When Hitch meets Sara, he does not immediately transform into Steve Urkel as the TV ad implies. Smith continues to portray Hitch as the suave Casanova with more game than Monopoly. Only now a tad more nerves are present since all signs point to Sara being “the one.”

As the film progresses, it becomes more and more the Kevin James show. Pound for pound the funniest actor in the movie (which is really saying something), James delights with a sweaty, Homer Simpson-esque magnetism. The King of Queens star’s charisma and self-deprecating wit should ensure a meteoric silver screen rise similar to that of Cedric the Entertainer.

After a Three’s Company-style mishap about Hitch and Albert’s true virtuous intentions, it is Albert’s storyline that wraps up in the most satisfying fashion rather than Hitch’s. However, because the two plotlines are so intertwined, one need not compare the two, but suffice it to say the movie as a whole leaves the audience feeling fulfilled.

Hitch has all the elements you can ask for in a Valentine’s Day romantic comedy: sharp wit, fun characters, a fresh plot and a not-too-sappy romance perfect for guys and gals to enjoy. Though some scenes could have been executed or written a bit better, Hitch proves that if you sift through the dregs of cinema (i.e. February releases), you just might find a hidden gem. If you had plans to see The Wedding Date this Valentine’s Day, make the switch to Hitch.