Richard Cooper (Chris Rock Madagascar) is a successful investment banker in NYC who has a comfortable life in the suburbs with his wife Brenda (Gina Torres, The Matrix films) and their two children. Chris Rock the director rips a page from Chris Rock the comedian’s play book; he quickly gets to the heart of what the film is about.

Richard is frustrated because the responsibilities of working and taking care of the kids leaves no time for him and his wife to focus on each other. They do all the outward things one would expect, but when it comes time for intimacy in the bedroom, Brenda is seldom ready. It’s not only that she might have a headache, but it could be that her "face hurts," or "it’s not your birthday."

Richard ogles the women on his commuter train and on the streets of NYC. This is cheap sin, as he’s only guilty of desire. He knows he’s bored and he and Brenda try to work out their issues with counseling. But since the counselor is not married and has no kids, Richard discounts the value of her advice. When he fantasizes about the benefits of being single, he also recalls the downside. The result is a stalemate on life, until old friend Nikki (Kerry Washington of The Last King of Scotland comes to ask him for a letter of reference for a job.

Nikki and Richard were never lovers, but she’s a woman who constantly has her eyes open for the hunt. She starts showing up at Richard’s office more often, and insists that he spend more time with her for a host of reasons. Richard believes that if he just does what she asks today, she will quietly go away. But with Nikki, there is always one more thing that must be done for her to get her life in order. After landing a job, leaving a boyfriend and finally getting engaged, she’s ready to make her big move. Because she cares for Richard, and does not love her fiancé just yet, she wants to give Richard a "proper goodbye."

As always, an "off the books" relationship with a third party spells trouble. One starts lying not because they are doing anything wrong necessarily, but because it would be too uncomfortable to tell the truth. And the slippery slope of intent can suddenly send you over the edge, without a branch to grab onto.

Co-worker George (Steve Buscemi Monster House) tries to help Richard at work and at home. Unlike Richard, George is a player who acts out his thoughts with women other than his wife. He even has Viagra in the glove box of his car for special occasions. As Richard observes, "You can lose a lot of money chasing women, but you never lose women by chasing money."

There are hilarious moments throughout the film without Rock doing a string of stand-up comedy type jokes. The film delivers some of the same messages as What Love Is, but is far more entertaining. Foibles about love, marriage and being single are observed without being preachy.

There have been so many Viagra jokes that we thought it was impossible for there to be another one that was funny. The scene where Richard takes the advice of George on how to rekindle things with Brenda is enough to make you cry with laughter.

Kerry Washington is over the top with her sexuality, but it illustrates just how men can be manipulated at the same time the woman is doing as much or more damage to her own self interests. If there is an overall message, it’s that we must be very careful with willful changes in our lives. In love, as in war, there is the law of unintended consequences that changes the day forever. Fortunately, the comeback from love gone wrong has far fewer casualties.