worthless

Rating: 2/10 (5 February 2004)

More emptiness from the school of new style flashiness. The film is trying to be a gentle comedy romance, but it's hardly better than most movies like it. In fact, it's worse because it's clear it wants to be treated like art. It demands respect and recognition.
The two leads are awful, and they are given next to nothing to work with. The girl always has this pleasantly embarrased look on her face as if everything offends her-you can't tell where she's coming from. And after a certain point you really couldn't care. She's a non-character. Bill Murray is slightly more interesting, but it's clear that he is not the actor for this stuff. (Then again, noone is). The only time he registers with us is when he wisecracks and does his deadpan stare number.
The movie is so boring and the acting so transparent that when a throw away character appears, she gives the movie a little lift. I'm referring to the young blonde actress in Japan to do press meetings for her new action movie. It's clear the movie is poking fun at her, but I thought she was the only person with any life. I wanted the movie to stay with her. The few times she appears, you come out of your stupor and smile a bit. It's funny how the writers come through when they want to be mean and satirize shallow actors, but when it comes to actual dialog and scenes that entertain they're lost in another world.
The only comedy in the movie is derived from Murray looking bemused while some funny looking Japanese person rambles on. It's the only joke this movie has and it's pathetic.
Plus, how is this movie a romance? They share no great feelings of passion for each other. I think the closest they get is some inocuous pillow talk. If you want to show a romance and then restrict the actors from doing anything a little crazy, what's the point? Their little adventures are clipped of any real excitement, any revelations.
It's clear Sofia Coppola thinks she's hot stuff. I've seen her in a few magazines preening as if she were totally awesome, a new great director. Her father certainly helped her get into directing, vouching for her wherever he could. I seriously doubt a young female would garner this much acclaim if she wasn't who she was.