WHEN it comes to asking that special someone out - especially if you've spent months admiring them from afar - there's always going to be that element of embarrassment and doubt.

What if you make a complete fool of yourself by stumbling on your words or saying something stupid and the object of your desire turns you down?

If only there was someone who could guide you into being that cool, charismatic, suave person you know you can be.

Well, in Hitch, help is finally at hand for all the shy, bubbling, socially inept men of New York, who, for a fee, can employ the services of their very own secret date doctor in the form of Alex "Hitch" Hitchens.

Played by Will Smith in his first romantic comedy, Hitch promises: "It only takes three dates to illuminate the right you and appeal to the women of your dreams."

We see him as he sets about helping clumsy accountant Albert Brennaman try to approach, and win over, Allegra Cole, a beautiful socialite with whom he's fallen deeply in love.

But while the cool and self-assured Hitch proves to be extremely successful in helping other men find love, his smooth, perfected approach doesn't seem to work with Sara Melas, played by Eva Mendas, a beautiful ambitious gossip columnist determined to uncover exactly who the mysterious date doctor is.

This film was a huge hit in America and broke box office records for the opening of a romantic comedy - and it's easy to see why it has been so popular.

The slapstick comedy should have you cringing with embarrassment on behalf of both Hitch and Brennaman as they find themselves in some increasingly awkward situations.

Admittedly, that's what you'd expect from a romantic comedy, but rather than being too formulaic to the point of predictability, it really is funny and endearing.

Hitch's character is a welcome change from the action roles we've seen Smith play in films such as Independence Day, Bad Boys and Men in Black, but he's hardly been stretched in the acting department in this easy-to-watch heart-warming com edy.

In fact, the character is exactly how I would imagine his first television role as the young Fresh Prince of Bel Air would grow up to be, in this instantly likeable and enjoyable film.

However, no Will Smith film is complete without the open-shirt, running-down-the-street scene - so fear not, it's in there. The only difference is this time he's chasing after the women he's fallen in love with and not an alien intent on taking over the world.