I Think I Love My Wife
Rated: R
Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes
Directed by: Chris Rock
Starring:
Chris Rock - Richard Cooper
Kerry Washington - Nikki Tru
Gina Torres - Brenda Cooper
Steve Buscemi - George
While Chris Rock’s newest film and latest directorial effort since the almost-excellent Head of State may officially be based on the French film, Chloe in the Afternoon, anyone familiar with Rock’s stand-up work will see a striking similiarity between a bit from his classic stand-up Bring The Pain, where he talks about every man having to make the decision between “Commitment” and “New Pussy”.
Rock plays Richard Cooper, an investment banker who loves his kids and would probably love his wife more if she just put out every once ina while. The longer his dry spell continues, the more sex Richard sees in the world. In walks Nikki Tru, an accquaintance from Richard’s past and the embodiement of everything Richard has had to give up for the maturity of married life: sex, freedom, and fun. As you can guess, things begin to spiral out of control when a woman without a care in the world comes into Richard’s highly structured life.
Just as with Head of State, Rock can be a brilliant director when utilizing cut-aways and imbuing the film with his impeccable comic timing. But also as with State, Rock always feels a little restrained, not wanting to venture too far into the surreal and the bizarre. Keeping it real doesn’t make the film go wrong, but it did leave me wanting for Rock’s more imaginative touches.
Despite the dead-eye accuracy of martial stagnace and Rock’s undeniable brilliance when it comes to social commentary, his and co-writer Louis C.K.’s script suffers from a failure to make Richard’s wife Brenda a sympathetic character. Whenever he’s pulled towards the married life, it seems more like it’s because of his kids rather than any real affection he feels towards his wife. And frankly, she’s not deserving of Richard’s affection since she treats him more like a mother than a partner.
I Think I Love My Wife is a good film with some solid laughs and keen observations. However, it’s not the great film that Rock clearly has in him.
Words by
Matt Goldberg
3.24.07