I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE

US, 2007, 90 minutes, Colour.
Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, Gina Torres, Steve Buscemi, Edward Herrmann.
Directed by Chris Rock.

This is a film for Chris Rock fans, made after he had achieved a great deal in stand-up comedy, on stage, on television, in film. He had begun to appear in a number of films like the thriller, Bad Company, with Anthony Hopkins, and had begun to direct, Head of State. Here, he stars, directs and is the co--writer with comedian who was about to become very famous on television as well as appearing in films, Louis C.K.

it comes as something of a surprise in the final credits to find that this film is not an original but, rather, is based on a classic French film by writer and director who seems the very opposite of Chris Rock and Louis C.K, Eric Rohmer. This film in question is Chloe in the Afternoon/ Love in the Afternoon, 1972, one of the many moral tales, as Rohmer described them, that he made in the 1960s and 1970s, including my night my Night with More. Rohmer was something of an ascetic filmmaker but also an astute observer of people’s characters and moral manners and interactions, which continued in his many films for the next several decades.

I Think Love my wife My Wife is surprisingly close in characters and situations to the original film. But, of course, the tone is very different, incorporating the serious elements but also incorporating Chris Rock’s comic style, language, and very 21st century portrait of a marriage and temptation to infidelity.

Rock himself is quite good in the central role, buttoned up businessman who had a life before marriage but who is now domesticated with a rather demanding wife and child. But, sexual intimacy between the couple has very much cooled, with the down effect on the husband, the wife being oblivious, even in some sequences with a counsellor. Rock is now a banker, very efficient at his work, Steve Buscemi being a workmate who relies on him but who has a rather amoral life, and Edward Herrmann as his boss.

Into all this comes Nicky, Kerry Washington, an old friend who is breaking up with her partner and tracks him down, beginning to impose on him, ever-present at the office, going out with him, urging him to inspect the new apartment, even persuading him to go to Washington’s DC where there is an unfortunate encounter with her former boyfriend. His work suffers, he is being threatened with being fired. His friend warns him, his secretaries protecting him.

But, at the beginning of the film, in the voice-over, he has confided that he has a roving eye. Eventually, Nikki is persuasive and wears him down but, in a moment of conscience, reminded of his playing with his child, and walks out and the marriage is saying.

And IMD be blogger, appreciating the film, suggested that it would be a good candidate choice for a film to use in pre-marriage counselling.

1. The contribution of Chris Rock? Co-writing with Louis C.K.? Origins in a film by Rohmer, Chloe in the Afternoon?

2. Rohmer and his moral tale? Transferred to New York City, the 21st century? Taking the serious themes? The Chris Rock comic style?

3. New York City, commuters, homes, offices, the clubs, diners, apartments? Washington DC, streets, apartment, airport? The musical score? Chris Rock, his contribution, acting, writing, directing? His career, stand-up comedy, humour?

4. The narration, confiding in the audience? His character, life, before his marriage, his children, his wife? His job, thinking skills?, The issue of buying the green shirt? His secretaries and their being protective? George, collaboration, different lifestyle? The boss, reliance on him, the later threats? His being bored, his roving eye on the railway station, in the train, the images, his imagination, his sense of responsibility?

5. At home, the lack of sexual activity, the distance between husband and wife, his enjoying playing with the children, going to meals with couples, the domestic talk? Shopping in the city, going to the auto exhibition?

6. At the office, his skills, the clients, the discussions with George, not going to lunch, privately, his orderly life?

7. The arrival of Nicky, the firm? The past, relationship, the meeting, her coming on to him, the visits to the office, waiting for him, the phone calls, taking his time? Going out, the drinks, the meals, the auto show? Advice from George? Protection from the secretaries? The meeting with Nicky while shopping with Brenda? Her demands that he see the new apartment? The persuasion to go to Washington, getting the stuff, her coming onto him, the court? The violence, the fight? Waiting at the airport and delayed? His responsibility for the clients?

8. The boss, talking to him, the threat of firing? The meeting, George failing as substitute, the clients walking out?

9. His cutting off Nicky, not answering the phone?

10. The sessions with the psychiatrist, her taking notes, his talk about sex, his pretence that it did not matter, her writing delusional? His wife during the talking?

11. His picking a fight with his wife about the chicken, going out, to the club, meeting the girls from the shop, the drugs? Coming home late?

12. Nicky contacting again, his allowing the relationship, buying the condom is, the visit, the sexual encounter, seeing his image in the mirror with the tie, like playing with his children, his leaving?

13. Nicky and Sean, saying that she changed, wanting to settle down – and the future? Sean and his response?

14. The Viagra, lasting for four hours, calling the ambulance, the treatment?

15. Bonding with his wife, learning his lesson, ignoring the women on the railway platform?

16. Moral tale? For men? The women? For relationships? The marriage?