Actor/comedian Chris Rock directs and stars in this American remake of Eric Rohmer' s classic French comedy Chloe in the Afternoon. Richard Cooper (Rock) is a high-powered investment banker with a beautiful wife and two wonderful children. Though on the surface it would appear that Richard could want nothing more out of life, his thoughts always seem to drift toward sex. Whether it's during his daily commute into the city, his endless barrage of meetings, or even his downtime changing diapers at
home, Richard's mind is constantly preoccupied by fantasies about the women he sees on the commuter train, on the city streets, and in the boardroom. Richard's daily life has gradually devolved into a blur of mind-numbing banality, and these days sexual fantasy has become his sole means of escaping the constant pressures of work and fatherhood. Though Richard never had any real intention of cheating on his faithful but preoccupied wife Brenda (Gina Torres), a chance run-in with his old friend Nikki (Kerry Washington) -- a drop-dead gorgeous stunner who appears at his office door one day seeking career advice from the successful banker -- finds his steely resolve fast turning flimsy. It's not long before the smitten Richard and the smoldering Nikki are meeting for clandestine lunches, and temptation begins to turn Richard's once-predictable life upside down. As his uncontrollable fantasies begin to lead him down the dangerous path of infidelity, the man who once kept his libido safely in check finds it increasingly difficult to refrain from acting on his impulses. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
I Think I Love My Wife is first and foremost a sex comedy. But Rock is sharp enough to set it in a world where people of all races share the same dreams and desires -- if not the same real estate.
Saddled with the weight of an unfocused, cliché-ridden script, a tiresome voice-over narration that drones on and on, and acting by Rock that's as wooden as Pinocchio, I Think I Love My Wife staggers in predictable circles for 94 long minutes.
The most shocking thing about I Think I Love My Wife isn't the language, the sex, or the racial humor. It's the fact that it's not a funny movie. At all.
As uneven as I Think I Love My Wife often is, it still has an emotional resonance lacking in most films about relationships. By dealing with temptation in even a quasi-realistic way, it affirms that, like comedy, monogamy is hard.
The DVD edition (August 2007) includes some deleted scenes, outtakes, and behind-the-scenes look, but, alas, nothing can conceal the tedious and fraudulent nature of this very loose remake of Eric Rohmer's French classic.
So much of I Think I Love My Wife misses the mark that you spend more time contemplating the creative process - who thought this was funny/clever/heartfelt, and why - than getting involved with the individuals onscreen.
Buppie infidelity, marital boredom and female temptation on every street corner are the predicaments posed by this Chris Rock directed oddly unromantic fare.
Buppie infidelity, marital boredom and female temptation on every street corner are the predicaments posed by this Chris Rock directed oddly unromantic fare.
One of the film's key revelations is that his resistance to having an affair comes as much from wishing to maintain his lifestyle (the high-paying job, the nice house, the kids) as from loyalty to his wife. Why sharp observations like that one would need
The film is good for the vast majority. It's a rather mature critique of marriage that suggests perhaps marriage isn't for humans. Rock plays a hard working banker in a sexless marriage. The biggest problem here is his wife. She is neither attractive or friendly. I honestly can't see why Rock is with her. This makes it
all the more frustrating when Rock meets Kerry Washington. She is so beautiful no man could resist her, especially in the final scenes. The ending is a real cop-out. It suggests that fidelity is almost a curse, but it's better than our protagonist being happy. The fact that the end realisation comes in the form of a very terrible song (WTF?) just makes it even more painful. Would have liked more from Buscemi's character, a man happily married for 17 years, despite his affairs and flings. Worth it just for Washington.
No quotes approved yet for I Think I Love My Wife. Logged in users can submit quotes.
Submit a Quote from 'I Think I Love My Wife'
A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.
Example:
Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try. Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
Top Critic
