Running time: 90 minutes
Starring: Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, Gina Torres, Steve Buscemi, Edward Hermann
Richard Cooper (Chris Rock) may only think he loves his wife, but I know I hate this movie. A complete mess from beginning to end, nothing makes sense. Certainly nothing's remotely funny, and how anyone ever thought this would be entertaining in any way is a complete mystery. Without having seen the 1972 French film L'Amour L'après-Midi (Love In The Afternoon), on which this was based, I can only assume Chris Rock, who also directed and co-wrote the script, felt it had some redeeming qualities that were worth updating. If so, then they certainly never made it to his version. Disjointed throughout, the editing is erratic with countless plot elements going nowhere. Its unintentionally anarchic approach results in it having more loose ends than a yarn shop. Such anomalies might be forgiven were there something mildly diverting to distract you, but alas there isn't. Instead, all there is is a cinematic catastrophe that leaves you wondering whatever happened to the talent Chris Rock once had.
Frohmer's original film was part of his six morality tales. The question of adultery is not generally prime comedy material, which might explain why this isn't funny, despite its aspirations. Cooper is an investment banker on Wall St. A father of two, he's been married nearly seven years to Brenda (Gina Torres) and admits to having the "perfect life" except for one thing, he's "bored out of his f***ing mind." His sexless marriage causes him to fantasize about women all the time.
Into his well ordered, if dull, life enters the scantily clad Nicky (Kerry Washington), an ex-girlfriend of one of Cooper's old friends, who all but propositions him. That she suddenly shows up in his life after eight years, on the flimsy premise of wanting a reference, is incredulous enough, but that he should be remotely interested in the opportunist, needy, selfish, annoying Nicky is unbelievable. But then again finding reasoning for anything in this trite nonsense would be like finding an Eskimo in your latte: you won't.
The premise, which is essentially Cooper's moral dilemma, is undermined by the fact that Nicky doesn't represent a plausible temptation. But then I'm wasting my time trying to even analyze it. I can't blame Cooper for being bored with his life. I was bored with it long before the interminable 90 minutes were over.
Kevin Murphy
