I Think I Love My Wife is a loose remake of Eric Rohmer’s 1972 Chloe In The Afternoon. Chris Rock is investment banker Richard Cooper – a family man bored with marriage allowing himself to be seduced by old acquaintance Nikki Tru (Kerry Washington) who he hasn’t seen in years.

Needless to say, what unfolds is Rock’s well-honed observations on married life, sex, infidelity etc – all seemingly recycled from his numerous smash hit stand up comedy shows.

The flimsy narrative is made plausible by the well rounded characters that make up Cooper’s life - his sexually inactive wife Brenda (Gina Torres) and two young children, his low-life work colleague George (Steve Buscemi) and Nikkie, the predatory but insecure friend from his past.

Cooper’s well-worn routine of no sex, the sexually frustrating commute to work in Manhattan and late, crowd-avoiding lunches is shattered by the arrival of sex pot Nikkie.

Her simple need for a reference for a new job turns into a renewed friendship so full-on that Cooper’s office assumes that the two are engaged in an affair.

However, Cooper finds himself carrying all the guilt whilst only having some of the fun as he does everything but be unfaithful to Brenda.

With his previous film forays being pretty forgetful, Rock this time also writes and directs. The film has no delusions of grandeur; Cooper’s floundering is sparsely projected.

His desperation isn’t steeped in the style of a Peep Show or an Annie Hall. Added to which Rock’s direction is minimalist and the overall production looks and feels economical and unfussy.

As mentioned, it’s the characters that take the film beyond a series of enjoyable sketches. Buscemi’s George is a stand-out, developing from the work colleague whom Cooper won’t lunch with to the married sleazebag who’s boffing every intern he can whilst warning his friend Cooper from following in his footsteps.

If you're a fan of Rock's stand-up or just a married guy, there’s lots to relate to and some bits to make you laugh out loud.

Raaj Rana