I had this come up with my wife a while back, and although she is not a good chess player I would say 500-800, she still can tell when I am giving the game away. lolo
So that tell's me, she may have a chance in chess! I have ChessMaster/GrandMaster dvd-rom, and set it at her training level and she enjoys using it when the mood strikes her. I think she would enjoy playing your wife, or any one at her level more! This proves that chess can be enjoyed at any level.
You're walking a slippery slope fellas. I taught my lady how the pieces move and a few simple tactical motiffs about three years ago.
Last weekend, we were paired in a tournament and she crushed me...like grape.
She doesn't let me win arguments so why should I let her win at chess?
Instead of letting her win outright try offering her odds perhaps a knight, but maintain your playing strength.
How about playing some games with takeback moves?
Get to the important bit: what film has a lot of chess in it?
LOL!
Some great responses, thanks chaps.
I'd hate to see her quit becuase of frustration, but its hard to get her to play anyone other than the few people she knows who are pretty much all stronger than her....
The film was Revolver.
"You only get smarter by playing a smarter opponent".
Some lovely chess scenes in that:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/12/06/movies/20071206_REVOLVER.html
Play odds games, either piece odds or time odds or both.
Using the clock you can do the following:
Start with both the same amount of time for the game, after that the one that wins gets less time the next game. Eventually the weaker opponent will win some games.
This works very well in 5 minute games, decreasing 1 minute each win. Of course you can try longer time controls.
If she refuses to let you teach her, or go through games, she'll never get any better so if I were you I wouldn't bother playing her any more. DO NOT LOSE DELIBERATELY! If she finds out, you'll get the don't patronise me, whatever, look...
Throw a couple of games for her benefit but be suttle, It's not like she hasn't done the same 
You're walking a slippery slope fellas. I taught my lady how the pieces move and a few simple tactical motiffs about three years ago.
Last weekend, we were paired in a tournament and she crushed me...like grape.
made me lol
Dude, you're not a dude?
Truth in avatarizing has always been my motto.
I think she's now getting disheartened at all the losses, and is going down the "Its a stupid game anyway" line, she's often the type that gets frustrated if she can't master something pretty much straight away, but she'd also be peeved if I just handed her games....
It's probably not her kind of game if she just wants to win without much work. Chess shouldn't be about just winning; winning should be the culmination of the constant desire to creatively solve the problems in front of you over the board.
But then, that's just my disposition, and maybe there aren't many people who look at it that way.
My advice is to try going back to the basics together. By that I mean practicing with just Kings & pawns from their original starting position. As one poster said, 'get her in the wine mood' and remind her that if she queens a pawn then she has every prospect of beating you. I think that would be less hurtful to her pride than giving piece odds or time odds. Without all the other pieces "clouding" the issue she may be more receptive to the instruction you could offer. Then if she improves you could add bishops to the menu & see where it goes from there.
Here's a thought. It is not really chess that she is interested in but capturing the mood in the film. Why not dress up as characters in the film and then play a game. Who knows? There may be a 'bonus' for you at the end.
The missus got the chess bug a year or so ago after watching a film with lots of chess in it.
I set her up with my old copy of Chessmaster, showed her the classroom and we played some games.
Comparatively I'm a much stronger player, and the games have been 100% 1 sided so far.
But she won't let me analyse with her after the games (which I kind of understand - I'm the enemy and she wants to beat me on her own) and refuses to let me teach her anything pretty much.
I think she's now getting disheartened at all the losses, and is going down the "Its a stupid game anyway" line, she's often the type that gets frustrated if she can't master something pretty much straight away, but she'd also be peeved if I just handed her games....
Do I let her win a couple?