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Review #426 of 365
Movie Review of I Think I Love My Wife (2007) [R] 90 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $9.00
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 16 March 2007
Time: 10:30 p.m.
DVD Release Date: 5 February 2008 (click date to purchase or pre-order)
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
DVD Release Date: unscheduled
Directed by: Chris Rock (Head of State)
Written by: Chris Rock ("Everybody Hates Chris") and Louis C.K. ("Lucky Louie") based on the motion picture Chloe in the Afternoon by Eric Rohmer
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Chris Rock (Madagascar) • Kerry Washington (The Last King of Scotland) • Gina Torres ("Standoff") • Steve Buscemi (Charlotte's Web) • Edward Herrmann ("Gilmore Girls")
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Chris Rock fans be forewarned, this IS your father's Chris Rock. Yep, this is Chris Rock trying to decide if he can still be Chris Rock after all these years. Guess what, well, he sort of can, maybe, sort of, a little, tiny itty bit…well, um, No! Maybe? It's not likely you heard much about this film before it came out. Which is not a good sign. Well, it can be if the film is directed by George Lucas, Peter Jackson, or Steven Spielberg all of whom carefully protect the plot lines for greater b.o. (that's box office NOT what you were thinking) mojo—a word that never goes out of style right? Well, see, here's the thing. Chris Rock, no matter how hard he tries, he will always be a former "SNL" cast member. And as I've written about extensively in the past, former "SNL" cast members must and forever, expect maybe now Will Ferrell who did put out two great films in a row and might be on his way to his third depending on how Blades of Glory turns out, endure an 'every-other-film-stinks' curse. It's not a precise thing, but it's pretty close. The curse, in its mild form, basically means that former "SNL" cast members cannot be in back-to-back good films. In it's extreme form, the form "SNL" not ready for prime time player may actually never be cast in a good film, ever. No one is quite sure why this is. It might have something to do with the points made in this year's 'breath-taking' and revelatory song and dance number performed at the 79th Academy Awards® show by Will Ferrell and Jack Black about how comedies always get snubbed by the awards. In any case, this is sort of a long-winded way of saying that, sorry, Mr. Rock, but your latest film, I Think I Love My Wife should have been called "I Don't Think I Should Make This Movie". First off, the film is rather dull.
…rather dull…should have been called "I Don't Think I Should Make This Movie".
Yeah, I know, hard to believe. It has some sort of funny moments. But those are buried quickly by drawn out bits like Mr. Cooper (Chris Rock's character) literally becoming Mr. Rock when he has a bad reaction to Viagra® for over four hours. Fortunately, we are spared the medical procedure used to restore order in the ambulance. Or, how about Mr. Cooper and his sort of girl friend Nikki Tru (Kerry Washington)--not girlfriend but friend who's a girl—though she might want to be more and he might want to be more if only he weren't so boringly married to Brenda (Gina Torres) and boorishly parental to two children—toss dollar bills out the high rise office building where Richard Cooper works to see who will get the money. For some perturbing reasons, Nikki finds this game very amusing especially if she can use someone else's money. And using other men's money seems to be the thing at which she is best. On the rebound from a bad relationship with a terrible heavy mobster type, she's decided to prey on Richard, an old friend of hers. Everyone sees the problems with Nikki circling from above except Richard. His administrative assistant sees it, his colleague George (Steve Buscemi), and even his wife though she doesn't know the extent to which she has influence over his wavering ways. Which is the crux of the story and, perhaps, the overlap in Chris Rock's own life—meaning which way does his comedy go now, nothing to do with his personal life. Will Richard Cooper leave risk the safety of the family life to which he's grown accustomed with Brenda for the more glamorous life with Nikki? And will Chris Rock return to his foul-mouthed though hysterical comedy routines of his youth or move into the role of a leading man candidate and more serious actor? Well, I won't spoil the ending to the film, but I will say that Mr. Rock's transition to this type of film was, well rocky at best. He just never seemed comfortable in a role that really should have been perfect for him. The film is not that funny particularly because of the out-of-place happenings and remarks. Both the real Rock and the character are caught in some sort of time warp between the realities of society today and the mischief of their corresponding youth. Simply put, most of his fans are likely to leave saying one of two things, "I want the old Chris Rock back," or "I must be too young to get this film." Neither should inspire others via word of mouth to gamble $9.75 on a movie ticket. Meanwhile, both Kerry Washington and Gina Torres far outshine Chris Rock in the film. They breathe the essentials into both contrasting women with vibrancy and relevance. Unfortunately, there's the role of George and the casting choice of Steve Buscemi. It would take an awful lot to explain this casting decision to me. His character is supposed to be quite the ladies man—a role model for Richard who has a 17-year marriage that's rock solid despite his having cheated on his wife dozens of times. He just doesn't fit the bill nor does he seem like a guy who would be a good partner for Richard at the business firm where they work together to bring in clients. If you direct, write, and star in a film, there's got to be a way to know, somehow, if the project just isn't working so well, doesn't there?
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring I Think I Love My Wife (2007)
Cast Members
Chris Rock
• Kerry Washington • Gina TorresSteve Buscemi
• Edward HerrmannCo-writer / Director
Chris Rock
Co-writer
Louis C.K.
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I Think I Love My Wife (2007) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Chris Rock fans be forewarned, this IS your father's Chris Rock. Yep, this is Chris Rock trying to decide if he can still be Chris Rock after all these years. His latest film, I Think I Love My Wife, should have been called "I Don't Think I Should Make This Movie". First off, the film is rather dull. Second, despite valiant performances from co-stars Gina Torres who plays his devoted wife and Kerry Washington who plays Nikki Tru his new love interest (or is she), Chris Rock is not able to be the real Chris Rock. It's not clear who he is or if even he knows. Poor Steve Buscemi is just a fish out of water entirely miscast in the film. If you direct, write, and star in a film, there's got to be a way to know, somehow, if the project just isn't working so well, doesn't there?
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