Movie Review: I Think I Love My Wife

By Anne Brodie Mar 14, 2007, 11:03 GMT

A remake of the French film \'Chloe in the Afternoon.\' Depicts the life of a happily married office worker who daydreams about other women until he encounters the mistress of an old friend who tries to seduce him. The remake is set in present day New York. ...more

It is nice to see that Chris Rock has boldly charged into triple threat territory – co-writing, directing and starring in this edgy romantic comedy.

The screenplay is based on the Eric Rohmer’s final offering in His Six Moral Tales Series, Chloe in the Afternoon. Rock has re-worked it for contemporary urban audiences but he’s built in a lifetime of social payback.

The new version concerns a well-to-do suburban husband and father called Richard who is bored with his life, especially his marriage. He and Brenda stopped having sex some time ago – she always has excuses but its clear she is simply no longer interested. And she has little time for him in any other way – she’s caustic and dismissive.

Richard indulges his fantasies on the commuter train to and from work each day, imagining each woman is naked and lusting after him. He has no plans to follow through, he’s just testing to see if he’s still alive.

One day, skanky Nikki shows up. She’s the ex-fiancée of his friend, who tried to kill himself after Nikki broke it off. Richard knows she is trouble. She starts dropping by his office, luring him to play hooky from work and enjoy his otherwise boring life.

People in the office are starting to talk but he shuts them out – after all, he and Nikki are platonic friends. He’s a big shot in the firm, but doesn’t understand the most basic rule – don’t bring your dirty laundry into work, whether you’ve dirtied it or not. Your job and reputation may be affected.

And, yet he feels spectacularly guilty. He finds himself picking fights with Brenda so he can take off for the night and meet Nikki in a club.

‘Chicken!!!! Again??!!’.

So ether way, his wife or his gal pal – he’s not getting any.

The misogyny of the film is breathtaking. Both women are caricatures – one good and long-suffering, if withholding, the other conniving, skanky and dangerous. The Good Girl and the Bad Girl. Some explication would have been a good touch.

How did Eric Rohmer put it together so artistically - such an exercise in stereotyping?

It’s filled with tasteless jokes, including a long and labored riff on Viagra. But it still can’t stake its claim - comedy or a drama? Well it’s a rocky road going both places at once.

Also, Richard appears to be blind or stupid – he can’t tell when a women is manipulating him and that’s probably one of the reasons he’s such a loser in love. Maybe there is a subtle nuanced way Rock could have gone but he didn’t.

The whole undertaking is a mess, from start to finish. One or two zingers can’t help it.

This kind of thing that happens when a powerful star gets an idea. No one, especially anyone on the payroll, will say ‘hey Chris – you better re-think this’.

There is a nascent racism – he, his wife, and their friends have a troubling attitude towards whites. Around their kids, they spell out the word W-h-i-t-e.

There are instances that make you go ‘huh’? Those you will have to find for yourself.

There is no need to insult folks based on their skin color with humor or bitterness. The other way around would never pass. Why should this?

I Think I Love My Wife
35mm romantic comedy
Written and directed by Chris Rock
Runtime: 94 minutes

Opens March 16th. MPAA: Rated PG-13 for pervasive language and some sexual content