(March 23, 2007) — A Chris Rock comedy. Hilarious, right? Well, not exactly. Although his films do make me fall off my chair or laugh hysterically until I cry, his new movie, I Think I Love My Wife , did not have this effect on me. The film tells the story of an investment banker, Richard Cooper (played by Chris Rock), who has a wonderful family and two kids, but is constantly thinking about other women. His thoughts take a twist when his friend’s ex-girlfriend, Nikki (played by Kerry Washington), comes back to seduce him. The movie is actually quite bland other than some scenes that made the audience chuckle. Cooper’s encounter with Viagra and his idea of dates after you’re married did make me laugh, but for the most part the movie is a continuous portrayal of how he would like to be with other women, because he and his wife do not have a sex life. Luckily the actors are vibrant and have talent; otherwise the movie would have been a complete waste of money. The nearly sold-out audience seemed to enjoy the movie, especially a lot of the racist comments that Cooper emphasizes (he is the patriarch of a family living in a white suburb). The movie’s setting is interesting, with co-workers that are always on his case about his so called “mistress” that keeps visiting the office and the married couple that Cooper feels his wife and him always go out with. The movie balances well between serious and funny scenes. I felt like those moments gave the audience a reality check every time the characters were doing something that would be portrayed as negative. Since Rock directs and acts in the movie, his vision is clear with ideas about love, affairs, money and honesty. My interpretation of the advice in the movie is that we should not replace love with lust. Cooper speaks to the audience throughout the movie, giving people a chance to relate to his character. Although it was not hilarious and I did not fall off my chair, I Think I Love My Wife did give me some insight on a lot of things in life, especially ones dealing with the whole idea of love and relationships.
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Romantic comedy fails to impress, but still insightful
February 23, 2009