I Think I Love My Wife (2007) Reviews

• This sometimes funny but uneven film would make a great pre-marital counseling movie!

  inkblot112007-04-06

  Richard (Chris Rock) appears to have it all. He is a successful banking executive in New York City, lives in a posh home in the suburbs, and has the proverbial gorgeous wife and two kids. However, when a beautiful female acquaintance from former years crosses his path again, he begins to wonder if he is indeed missing something. Nikki is lovely beyond words and makes a big play for him, promising a supercharged sexual liaison. Richard toys with the idea, because it's true that his sex life at home has waned, what with the ongoing decisions about the children and the wall sconces for the living room. Should he risk an affair? This is an occasionally funny film with very attractive performers. Rock is a talented actor and he makes the most of the script's humorous situations. Just watch him cave into smoking a weed at a party or have a semi-serious encounter with a Viagra pill and you will be very mirthful. The trouble is, of course, that the film's comic moments are not in overabundance. The rest of the cast is very fine, with Steve Buscemi giving a nice little performance as a scummy colleague of Richard's. The two main female leads are colossally beautiful and arresting individuals, adding greatly to the movie's enjoyment. Costumes, sets, and production values are high. Beware, however, of some strong language from time to time, as the F-bomb is tossed around on occasion. All in all, this movie is not without humor or good messages yet can not be declared an outright winner. Nevertheless, it will do for an evening's entertainment or, more importantly, it would make a great counseling tool for those considering marriage in the near future. It's ultimate stance on marital commitment and the perils of infidelity are admirable indeed.

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• A typical middle class man faces a relatable crisis

  heartandsoul2007-03-22

  I wasn't going to comment until I saw all the negative and I thought unfair comments about this movie. I've always said that movies reviews often show what's going on inside us as much as what's went on on the screen. I for one was at first reluctant to see this movie because I thought Chris Rock's other movie attempts were juvenile. But when I read his announcement that this was his first "adult" movie, I became interested. I appreciated that this was a slice of life movie. I heard a complaint that there was no plot but since when does life present a neatly contrived plot? The movie represented a period out a man's life, a particularly rough patch in his marriage. It was exaggerated where it needed to be for comic effect, which for me, I'm happy to say was very successful, since most attempts at comedy leave me stone faced. In general both my boyfriend and I have discriminating tastes in movies. It's tough to surprise us, please us, make us laugh, while at the same time presenting a realistic life issue that makes one think. This movie did that. It wasn't strictly formula. My suggestion is to not automatically believe the negative reviews. Don't even take my review as gospel. But I think any movie that creates such divergent reactions deserves a look. I would suggest you definitely check it out and decide for yourself.

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• Enjoyable Comedy!...Absolutely LOVED It!

  kiacheri2007-03-26

  This romantic comedy was different. For once, I was not able to predict the outcome of the situation nor the ending. I really enjoyed the movie. The character of Richard Cooper is believable and the issue that is presented is realistic, esp. in America. It deals with the temptation to cheat. And even focuses on the ancient issue of whether or not men and women can have a platonic relationship. As well as the question: Is this marriage going to work or stand the test of time or temptation? It definitely is a movie for adults esp. couples. I laughed the entire time. I give Chris Rock two thumbs WAY UP & mad KUDOS...I Absolutely LOVED It!

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• certainly not as revelatory or grounded as Chloe in the Afternoon, but filtering through Rock's sensibilities it's not bad

  Quinoa19842007-03-17

  Chloe in the Afternoon, Eric Rohmer's much acclaimed 1972 film, will remain as a fine little pillar of the old story of a male character in infidelity and morality with living a life with a significant other, long after I Think I Love My Wife sits in the video stores and gets mass replays on TV. Chris Rock's film, as co-writer/director, is never one to really go down the path of dangerous contrivances or of the annoyances with the quirks in characterizations. This is mostly due to it being a comedy, and with Rock's own brand of sensibilities sort of filtering into this otherwise very straightforward examination of truth and desire in marriage, which is also very easy in some ways. In fact, as one who may pay attention to Rock's stand-up, at least ten to fifteen minutes of material in the film- from the line near the start "married and bored out of my f***ing mind", to the scene where the married couples have finner- can be found in the 2004 stand-up special Never Scared. This isn't a bad thing, though, and there's even a hilarious wink to moments that come unexpected, either from past Rock bits like the table-dance song in the club or the unfortunate, ecstatically tasteless scene in the ambulance van. But more than anything it's Rock, as star and filmmaker, an attempt at making a vehicle that knows it's being a little silly at times, and still reaching truths that are worthwhile. The joist of the plot concerns Richard Coopper, Rock, as an investment banker in New York city, married with two kids and quite successful, tempted by the suddenness of Niki Tru (Kerry Washington, almost a 180 of the bland 'good girl' type of woman in Ray), who as Steve Buscemi's character describes to Richard: "she's f***ing you, you just don't know it." At the core of the film there is some momentum in the fact that Richard doesn't go on to cheat, even as one might think this is the 'safe' route. There is more of a safe turn that happens, which is to be sort of expected, where Richard has a change of mind after letting go of the temptation, and this part loses its credibility in relation to the rest of the picture. But this isn't too much of a hindrance, so much of there being something small, though noticeable, that is even less credible. It reminds one of a similar problem in the Last Kiss, last year's similar romantic-morality tale of tranquility broken by another woman, because on the two sides neither is entirely satisfying. Niki is a cold, tramp kind of girl who actually gets exposition even though, despite Washington's portrayal, is annoying, yet Gina Torres's Brenda, Richard's wife, doesn't get much put into her as a noticeable character, except as a slightly blasé, male portrayal of her being a good mother, yet disengaged in the sexual sense. Yet there is some good that comes out of Rock's connections to both women that wasn't like the Last Kiss- he's able to garner a successful tone of balance between the drama and comedy, and to the degree that both are neither trying for anything great stay believable up to a point. Buscemi's character is one who's added for a slight change in tone, as at first the straight-laced friend for Richard, but then with his own special idiosyncrasies, really involving Viagra and his own complex with marriage. Meanwhile, Rock goes through his motions of faces in his performance, and it's almost too perfunctory, like his direction. It's definitely amiable and sympathetic, however, so it's not really anything that makes it a bad excursion as a date movie. There's some great songs mixed in, and a fantastic seduction scene towards the end, plus a possible tip of the hat to The 40 Year Old Virgin's end scene. If you need a good date movie right now, this would surely be one that doesn't offend, and doesn't really make you call everyone you know to see it, but it is smart enough for what it's worth, as opposed to any other lot of romantic comedies where the characters are positively sociopaths. Most you'll find here is a jealous hoodlum who puts a stomping to Richard at one point (which is actually very, very funny, even as a loose end). Not a bad remake, but not one to be put on the same pedestal either.

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• Something to ponder about

  ichocolat2007-08-24

  For those who want to watch a comedy movie, then this is not what you are looking for. Yeah it has Chris Rock as the main actor, but in this movie he is not the stand up comedian, and he doesn't wish to make you laugh out silly like he usually does in his TV shows. The story is about a man, who has been married for seven years, and has become a sex-deprived man because he has not make love for a long time. Things got messier when he met his old flame and he suddenly got attracted to her. She was supposed to be a temptress but I think she looked more like a prostitute looking for customers in broad daylight. But heck, he was still attracted to her, mainly because she offered to give him the thing that his wife wouldn't want to give him anymore. Catch my drift? So the story goes that he began to lose focus in his life, particularly with his family and his job in a bank. All because of the temptress and his stupidity to fall for her charm (and partly due to his other head too). This story addresses the problem faced by many married couple and I think this movie did a good job in portraying the problem. Sometimes it is hard to understand why many married couple choose to end their marriage, and this movie certainly shed some idea on the problem. Without doubt, a good watch.

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