I Think I Love My Wife

Chris Rock is acclaimed as one of the best, most cutting edge stand up comedians on the planet. Revered by those themselves hailed as comedy gods, it’s almost beyond belief he would put his name to, let alone direct and star in, something as insipid as this romantic comedy.

Rock plays Richard Cooper, an investment banker approaching middle age, with a beautiful wife, two kids and a successful career. Cooper seemingly has everything, but he’s bored with life and he and his wife have stopped having sex. As his boredom hits a peak, a woman from his past reappears on the scene to try and prise him away from his everyday existence and into an extra-marital affair.

That means it’s time to wheel out the mid-life crisis clichés, then. The major problem with I Think I Love My Wife is that it’s neither acerbic enough to satisfy Rock’s strong cult following or charming enough to reach out to the traditional rom-com crowd. Rock himself sleepwalks between one moderately amusing set-piece to another and only one or two moments (such as a horrific scene involving Viagra) really stand out.

A talented support cast - including The Matrix: Revolutions’ Gina Torres, The Wire alumni Wendell Pierce and Michael K Williams and even a tired-looking Steve Buscemi - are wasted as what could have been an interesting take on marriage is diluted into another mundane also-ran.

Extras: Audio commentary by Chris Rock, 13 alternate and deleted scenes, blooper reel, and Fox Movie Channel Presents: Casting Session.

Released on 2nd June 2008 by Twentieth Century Fox.

Written by Nick Aldwinckle.