Chris Rock wasn't just telling jokes in 2007. He was trying to figure out if being a "grown-up" was actually a trap. When you look back at the cast of I Think I Love My Wife, it’s a weirdly perfect snapshot of mid-2000s star power mixed with character actors who just got the assignment. Most people remember it as "that Chris Rock movie about cheating," but it’s actually a loose remake of Eric Rohmer's 1972 French classic Love in the Afternoon. That’s a heavy pedigree for a movie that features a scene about a guy hiding under a bed.
The chemistry worked because the casting was fearless. You had Rock playing Richard Cooper, a high-flying investment banker who is bored out of his mind despite having the "perfect" life. Then you drop in Kerry Washington before she was the world-conquering Olivia Pope. Add Gina Torres, who is basically acting royalty, and Steve Buscemi just being Steve Buscemi. It’s a group that shouldn't make sense on paper but feels like a real ecosystem on screen. Honestly, it’s one of those movies where the faces tell more of the story than the dialogue.
The Core Trio That Made the Tension Real
Chris Rock is the engine. He directed it, co-wrote it with Louis C.K. (long before that partnership became a complicated footnote in Hollywood history), and starred in it. Rock plays Richard with this specific kind of suburban exhaustion. He’s not a bad guy. He’s just a guy who realized that "happily ever after" involves a lot of scheduled sex and mind-numbing commutes from Westchester to Manhattan. His performance is twitchy and relatable.
Then there’s Gina Torres as Brenda Cooper. In many movies like this, the wife is written as a shrew or a bore to justify the husband's wandering eye. But the cast of I Think I Love My Wife didn't fall into that lazy trap. Torres brings this incredible dignity and warmth to Brenda. She’s busy. She’s a mother. She’s tired. You don't root for Richard to leave her; you root for him to wake up. Torres has this presence that makes you realize exactly what Richard is risking. It’s a nuanced performance that grounds the entire film in reality.
Then Nikki enters the room.
Kerry Washington’s Breakout Energy
Before Scandal, Kerry Washington was Nikki Tru. She’s the chaos agent. When she walks into Richard’s office, the movie shifts from a domestic comedy to a genuine temptation story. Washington plays Nikki not as a villain, but as a free spirit who is deeply, perhaps dangerously, impulsive. She represents everything Richard thinks he’s missing: spontaneity, excitement, and a lack of responsibilities.
✨ Don't miss: Who was the voice of Yoda? The real story behind the Jedi Master
The brilliance of her casting is that she makes the temptation understandable. It’s not just about looks. It’s about the energy. Washington and Rock have this jagged, nervous chemistry that makes the audience uncomfortable in the best way possible. You’re watching a train wreck in slow motion, and you can’t really blame the train for moving.
Supporting Players and The Buscemi Factor
You can't talk about the cast of I Think I Love My Wife without mentioning Steve Buscemi. He plays George, Richard’s colleague and the quintessential "bad influence." George is the guy who has already leaned into the infidelity and the lies. Buscemi brings his trademark dry, slightly neurotic delivery to the role. He serves as a cautionary tale dressed up as a friend. Every time he’s on screen, the movie gets a little darker and a little funnier.
The rest of the ensemble fills out the world of mid-2000s New York corporate life and suburban malaise perfectly:
- Edward Herrmann: He plays Mr. Landis, the boss. Herrmann had this innate ability to project "old money authority," which provided a great foil to Rock’s more modern, anxious energy.
- Daniella Alonso: As Nikki's friend, she added to the "cool girl" vibe that Nikki used to lure Richard out of his comfort zone.
- Matthew Morrison: Long before Glee, he had a small role as a department store salesman. It’s a "blink and you’ll miss it" moment that’s fun to spot now.
The casting of the kids—played by Jabari Gray and others—is also vital. They aren't just props. Their presence in the house, the noise they make, and the way they demand Richard’s attention represent the "weight" of his life. It makes his desire for an escape feel more tangible.
Why the Performances Outlasted the Reviews
When the film dropped, critics were somewhat split. Some thought it was a bit too light compared to the French original. Others thought Rock’s stand-up persona bled too much into the character. But if you watch it today, the performances hold up remarkably well. The cast of I Think I Love My Wife managed to capture a very specific moment in time.
🔗 Read more: Not the Nine O'Clock News: Why the Satirical Giant Still Matters
New York City in the mid-2000s was transitioning. The corporate culture was shifting. The way we talked about marriage and "having it all" was evolving. The actors leaned into these shifts. Rock’s Richard Cooper is a man caught between the traditional expectations of being a provider and the modern desire for constant self-fulfillment.
The movie handles the "friendship" between Richard and Nikki with a lot of gray area. It’s not a black-and-white story. There are moments where you think Nikki genuinely cares about him, and moments where it feels like she’s just using him for the thrill or the money. Washington plays that ambiguity perfectly. You never quite know her full motivation, which is exactly how Richard feels.
The Complicated Legacy of the Script
We have to talk about the writing. Rock and C.K. crafted a script that is undeniably funny but also deeply cynical about human nature. The cast of I Think I Love My Wife had to deliver lines that were often harsh. There’s a scene where Richard talks about how "the only thing that keeps me from killing myself is the thought that I might not be dead." It’s dark stuff for a mainstream rom-com.
The actors find the heart in that darkness. Without Torres’ warmth or Buscemi’s comedic timing, the movie might have felt too mean-spirited. Instead, it feels human. It feels like a group of people trying to navigate the messiness of being alive and committed to someone else.
Technical Craft Behind the Scenes
While the actors get the glory, the look of the film supported them. Remi Adefarasin, the cinematographer, captured New York in a way that felt both aspirational and claustrophobic. The bright, sterile offices of Manhattan vs. the warm but cramped interiors of the suburban home. This visual contrast helped the cast emphasize the internal tug-of-war their characters were experiencing.
💡 You might also like: New Movies in Theatre: What Most People Get Wrong About This Month's Picks
What We Can Learn From the Cast Today
Looking back at this lineup, it’s a masterclass in "type-subversion." Rock wasn't just the funny guy; he was a dramatic lead. Washington wasn't just the love interest; she was a complex, somewhat broken person.
If you're watching it for the first time or revisiting it after nearly twenty years, pay attention to the silence. The moments where Rock and Torres are just sitting in a room together, not saying anything. That’s where the real acting happens. It’s in the sighs, the tired eyes, and the way they move around each other in a kitchen they’ve shared for a decade.
Practical Takeaways for Movie Buffs
- Watch the Original: If you like this cast, seek out Love in the Afternoon (1972). Seeing how Rock adapted the French sensibilities for a Black American context is fascinating.
- Appreciate the Transition: This film was a pivot point for Kerry Washington. Watch this, then watch her in The Last King of Scotland, then jump to Scandal. You can see her honing that ability to be simultaneously magnetic and terrifying.
- Check the Soundtrack: The music choices, curated by Rock, are stellar. They act as a silent member of the cast, setting the tone for Richard’s emotional state.
The movie isn't perfect, but the people in it are doing high-level work. They took a story about a mid-life crisis and turned it into a character study that still sparks debates about loyalty, boredom, and what we owe the people we love. Whether you relate to Richard’s restlessness or Brenda’s exhaustion, the cast of I Think I Love My Wife ensures you feel something.
To get the most out of your next viewing, ignore the slapstick moments and focus on the chemistry between the leads. Look for the subtle ways Gina Torres uses her body language to show she knows more than she's letting on. Watch how Chris Rock’s posture changes when he’s with Nikki versus when he’s at his desk. That’s the real movie. That’s the stuff that makes it stay with you long after the credits roll and the 2000s-era hip-hop fades out.