A thoughtful and fun movie

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2004)

-Minor Spoiler Warning-
This movie struck a chord with me, since it reminded me of a few similar experiences of my own. Partly it was the feeling of being in a new place where at first you don't like it and don't know what you're doing there, but you start going out and seeing things and before you know it the business trip/job interview/whatever becomes a really fun thing. The other was I had a similar friendship (although closer in age) to what Charlotte and Bob Harris had.
This isn't the funniest movie, despite being marketed as a comedy, it borders more on the independent film genre. The humor is subtle and based more on reality. However, it is very engaging and Bill Murray is surprisingly likable as a more restrained and mature version of himself. You get the feeling you're seeing Bill Murray the person, not the comic actor.
A lesser movie would have given us all the old cliches and redone plots, a May-December romance with stupid hijinks and the obligatory sex scene, big fight, and a pat resolution that doesn't really satisfy anything. Instead we see things more on the level that real people see them, not Hollywood stereotypes.
Charlotte and Bob get along because they enjoy each other's company, which is probably the most important part of any friendship. They're both married to other people and know they're treading on thin ice, but they go out to have fun and enjoy their stay in Japan, not for base or ulterior motives.

This really comes true in one tender scene where Bob carries Charlotte home into her room after a night on the town and puts her in her bed. You see both how much younger she is than him, and the conflict in his face for a brief moment. He leaves, and you can tell from his manner he knows that there was a bridge as a friend he couldn't cross.
Similarly, they both realize their time together is unique, that in the human experience places you go and things you do for the first time are never quite the same again.
However, there are some flaws and things that don't work. I kept wondering what type of actor Bob was supposed to be, the commercials made him look like a drama actor, the patrons who recognize him in the bar talk about him like he was an action hero, and when we see a clip of one of his old movies on TV it looks like a straight comedy. Also, after admirably restraining himself for much of the movie at one point he runs off with the lounge singer for a one night stand. This almost broke the movie, as I was expecting the obligatory fight/breakup/reunion you normally see, but it returned to form pretty quickly.
I think one of the best scenes in the movie was the ending, where we -don't- hear what Bob says to Charlotte. Several people I know who've seen this film have had different spins on what the relationship between them was, from father/daughter to best friends to star crossed never-to-be lovers. Essentially whatever take you had on the relationship is allowed to stay true, which is I think one of the reasons this movie has been so well thought of, that the viewers aren't disappointed in what they were feeling about them. A good stroke to end the film, and overall a fun way to spend a few hours.