lost the plot

Rating: 6/10 (7 January 2004)

This film came highly praised which always raises ones expectations so by the end I was disappointed. It does have one of Bill Murray's finest performances, it does have one or two hilarious scenes, and it's presentation of Tokyo is dazzling and enticing. But there was an uneasyness about the film, the way it gets most of it's laughs at the expense of japanese language and culture and the rather big age difference between the two leads (not helped by Murray looking a lot older than his 53 years). You knew the relationship was always going nowhere and when the laughs dry up the film slowly draws to it's obvious conclusion. There are some great lines mostly between Murray and his wife and the soundtrack by kevin Shields is the coolest thing about the film, which is by no means bad, but in the end you wished for more of a story rather than this dreamy vague impression of one. (6/10)