MARCH 8, 2007—Something usually gets lost in the translation when Hollywood remakes a French comedy. But this wasn’t a concern to controversial comedian Chris Rock when he decided to follow his directorial debut Head of State with a remake of legendary French New Wave auteur Eric Rohmer’s sophisticated character study Chloe in the Afternoon.

“Even though it’s a remake of a French film, no one ever said, Oh, why are you doing this?” Rock said during a trip to Miami in February.

In I Think I Love My Wife, Rock stars as a bored family man who’s tempted to stray with the very sexy, the very available and the very willing Kerry Washington. (In a case of life imitating art, Rock denied in early March that newspaper reports of his own marriage being on the rocks were false).

Film South Florida spoke to Rock about directing his second film, his future collabrations with fellow ex-Saturday Night Livers Eddie Murphy and David Spade, and the 2008 president election.

Film South Florida: How familiar were you with Eric Rohmer and Chloe in the Afternoon?

Chris Rock: I had no idea who he was. I picked out the movie at random in Tower Records. The girl on the cover was attractive. I liked the movie. There were a bunch of places were it was really funny. So I called [co-writer] Louis C.K. and told him he should check it out.

Film South Florida: So why Americanize Chloe in the Afternoon?

Rock: I wanted to do a good movie based in reality. Head of State was more comical—it was about a guy running for president. This is about a real character in a real marriage. Everyone’s real. I knew no one would write something like this for me, so I had to write it [with Louis C.K.] for me.”

Film South Florida : What lessons did you learn from directing Head of State that you applied to I Think I Love My Wife?

Rock: Head of State … it’s a like a Mel Brooks film. Some of it works, some of it doesn’t work. I wanted to tell a story [with I Think I Love My Wife]. The camera never stops moving as I wanted to up the film’s dramatic feel. I had to learn when and how to move the camera.

Film South Florida : You’re a man who’s wore many hats. Stand-up comedian. Saturday Night Live cast member. Talk show host. Actor. Was it something you decided a long ago that you would one day also direct?

Rock: I had no big plans; it just ended up that way. I lucked out as the last cycle of movies hit, so I was in a position to take a chance [directing].

Film South Florida : As both the star and director of I Think I Love My Wife, how concerned are you that your comedy will alienate women? After all, you do play a mild-mannered accountant who toys with the idea of cheating on his wife with this seductive free spirit played by Kerry Washington.

Rock: [ Washington ’s] Nikki Tru character has a Holly Golightly feel about her. I hated Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I thought she was a prostitute. But women really respond to her.

Film South Florida: One of your recent hits was Madagascar, which is among several films you had done that was either partially or all animated. Why lend your voice to so many films?

Rock: I like it. Some of my best movies are animated.

Film South Florida : Is there a misconception that animated films is good money for hardly any work?

Rock: People think it takes no time. It adds up to less time, but it can get to be a monotonous reading the same line of dialogue 40 times. No one’s ever told me why it sometimes needs to be done that many times.

Film South Florida: Why do so many SNLers continue to work with each other long after they have left the show? For example, you’re about to make a camping comedy with David Spade.

Rock: I’m waiting to see the script. We’re like frat brothers. Frat brothers always get in business together.

Film South Florida: And what about the heist action-comedy that will reunite you with Eddie Murphy?

Rock: I’m waiting for the script. It has to be good, especially as it involves me and Eddie Murphy.

Film South Florida: You probably don’t want another repeat of what happened when you starred with Anthony Hopkins in Bad Company.

Rock: I thought we worked well together.… It was just a very well-executed bad movie.

Film South Florida : One of your first big action comedies was Lethal Weapon IV. How tough was it to be accepted by a cast—that included Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci—that had worked together on at least two previous films in the franchise? Or did you often feel like a gatecrasher?

Rock: They had their own fraternity, but they let me in. I never felt I was on the outside trying to look. The only guy I had to win over was Joe Pesci, but we ended up getting along great.

Film South Florida: Would you host the Oscars again?

Rock: Oh, yeah, it was a lot of fun. And you can’t turn your back on such a huge audience.

Film South Florida: You got yourself into trouble during the Oscars by poking fun at Jude Law, who at the time seemed to be in every film released. He recently told the New York Times that he felt it went beyond a joke and because a personal attack. Can you believe he took what you said so serious?

Rock: I guess he couldn’t get over it. I’m now almost glad I did. I can’t believe it is still news. I hope [Law] thanks me he wins his Oscar.

Film South Florida: When go you intend to tour again?

Rock: My tour starts in September, unless the Eddie Murphy script is ready.

Film South Florida: Speaking of Eddie Murphy, is it fair to pressure him into taking meatier roles after he proved himself a capable dramatic actor in Dreamgirls?

Rock: A comedian’s job is to make people laugh. Eddie was great in Dreamgirls. But if he wants to be funny, let him be what he wants to be.

Film South Florida: You’re still very much involved in TV as the producer of the semibiographical sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. But do you miss doing your HBO show?

Rock: I miss it a little bit, and with an election year coming up, it would be great to be back on TV.

Film South Florida: Can Barack Obama win in 2008?

Rock: He’ll put up a good fight. But it’s going to be a rough one. He has to run twice. First he has to beat Hillary [Clinton in the Democratic primary], and then beat Rudy Giuliani [in the presidential election].