Roger Ebert’s two-and-a-half-star rating is reported.
His review calls the movie pleasant and undemanding but questions its necessity and third act.
The panel argues the third act does not lag badly and wants him to enjoy the movie more.

Patton Oswalt as Albert; Alexander Skarsgård’s cut role; Ali Larter as a fictional celebrity.

Each is presented as reported casting or production history.

In the discussion (3)

Patton Oswalt is reported as the second choice for Albert and rejected by the panel for this role.
Alexander Skarsgård’s scenes as Allegra’s boyfriend were reportedly cut, leaving only a photograph.
Ali Larter reportedly supplied images for the fictional celebrity.

Stanley Tucci as Sara’s boss; Will Ferrell or other comic actors as Albert.

Ferrell’s height and star size are objections; the existing cast is repeatedly defended.

In the discussion (4)

Ellis Island ancestry; Smith’s inability to swim; Eva Mendes in Miami; soundtrack; proposed Jets stadium.

Production accounts and period New York details are retained separately.

In the discussion (5)

Will Smith reportedly resisted Ellis Island because Black Americans generally did not enter there; his producing partner’s family record changed his mind.
Smith reportedly could not swim and wore a large life vest for the jet-ski work.
Eva Mendes appearing in the Miami music video and Smith not remembering her are reported.
The soundtrack’s Amerie and Beyoncé comparison is discussed as music lore.
Albert’s reference to the proposed West Side Jets stadium is retained as period research.

Whether Hitch continues as the date doctor; how Albert earns money.

Exposure could bankrupt Hitch, or produce a lucrative book, media, and podcast business.

In the discussion (4)

Whether Hitch continues his business after exposure is questioned.
One answer predicts he is broke and his relationship fails.
The counterargument predicts a book advance, television appearances, and a lucrative advice brand.
How Albert continues earning money after quitting is questioned.

Albert’s coordination; repaired shirt; Sara attending the wedding; the newspaper staff; whipped cream.

Each objection receives its own explanation or counterargument where supplied.

In the discussion (12)

Albert being both clumsy and physically coordinated is questioned.
Kevin James’s real athleticism is distinguished from Albert’s intended clumsiness.
Sara returning Hitch’s badly torn shirt fully repaired is questioned.
Drinking Benadryl like a cocktail is questioned.
Allegra inviting Sara after the gossip story nearly ruins her relationship is questioned.
Allegra understanding that Hitch did not manufacture Albert’s appeal is offered as a defense.
Eva Mendes’s character complimenting Allegra’s bag is jokingly offered as sufficient reconciliation.
The gossip editor caring about Sara’s personal life and work-life balance is criticized as implausibly benevolent.
The large newspaper staff’s unclear jobs are questioned.
The newspaper friend’s actual job or beat is questioned.
Sara eating whipped cream from a can is criticized as a male-written cliché.
A daughter doing it as a teenager is offered as a counterexample before the behavior is reframed as childlike.

Sexual chemistry; sports as a first date; Hitch’s fee and customer acquisition.

The panel distinguishes sports, estimates a weekly price, and debates whether men would refer friends.

In the discussion (7)

Whether Hitch has more sexual tension with Sara or Albert is questioned.
Sports as a first date are debated, with baseball favored, basketball context-dependent, and football rejected.
A sports date is defended as better after several prior dates.
Hitch’s 2005 fee is estimated around $1,500 per week after higher guesses.
Payment terms and lack of guarantees are questioned.
Word of mouth is identified as customer acquisition, then challenged because clients might hide using him.
Men referring unlucky friends is defended as plausible.

Focus; Six Degrees of Separation; Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Each pairing highlights a different Will Smith performance or a companion dating-coach story.

In the discussion (3)

Focus is selected.
Six Degrees of Separation is proposed for another charming Will Smith performance.
Crazy, Stupid, Love is proposed as the closest thematic pairing.

Mentioned in the podcast

No additional references have been linked yet.