Director:
Chris Rock

Cast:
Christ Rock
Kerry Washington
Gina Torres
Steve Buscemi

Official URL:

http://www.ZodiacMovie.com

Country: USA
Rating: R
Studio Name: Paramount Pictures
Running Time: 2 hr 40 mins
Release Date: March 2, 2007

Critics's Rating:
(2 1/2 out of 4 Reels) 

March 2, 2007

By Veronica Mixon

I Think I Love My Wife is Chris Rocks’ second writer/director/actor effort and he shows some maturity in his material. Rock has utilized funny material from his standup act and the plot is loosely based on the French film, Chloe in the Afternoon. Unfortunately, his films still fall into the very familiar romantic comic mode and the only new take is Rock’s continuous stand up commentary about the beautiful women he sees on the street. Rock plays, Richard, an investment banker, bored with his beautiful wife, Brenda (Gina Torres) and two kids. He’s thinking of cheating all of the time and when gorgeous Nikki Tru (Kerry Washington) suddenly appears, Richard becomes putty in her hands.

A guy’s obsession about infidelity or the idea that a married man is missing out on life is a common theme in American films. Rock tries to add weight to this idea by making Brenda disinterested in sex. So, everything is set for Nikki to be a breath of fresh air but she isn’t. Instead, Nikki is irresponsible and despite the fact that Richard behave the same way, the allure of this behavior quickly fades. Furthermore, Nikki’s vulnerable – she has no profession or means of support – and when Richard stumbles at work, his bosses give him a sobering talk. The audience becomes frustrated with Richard since he has a lovely suburban home and family. Most French films adore being in love but American romantic comedies love conflict and the sexes fighting. War is the hallmark of American domesticity. Also, while Americans support family, they also love the dreaming about greener pastures elsewhere. So, there is no real lesson in I Think I Love My Wife.

The big surprise is beautiful Kerry Washington, who has made a career of playing the nice girls – especially important since the personalities of young African American women in movies are often loud, dangerous and forgettable. Washington, who is best known as Ray Charles’ long- suffering wife in Ray, Angela Jolie’s best friend in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and most recently, as the cheating wife of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin played by Oscar winner, Forrest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland, flaunts her natural beauty. She struts, flirts, flashes her gorgeous ebony skin at Rock and we love it. And, Rock wisely cast equally pretty Gina Torres (TV's 'Alias') as his wife so he’s surrounded by beautiful Black sistas!

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