One of the year's biggest disappointments

Rating: 5/10 (5 February 2004)

I was really looking forward to seeing this film and wanted very much to like it. It's not terrible, but it's not award-winning great either. Watching two boring people stumbling around Tokyo being bored was, well, just sort of boring. There are a few funny moments (Bill Murray mugging for the ad cameras, the carpet-square scene), but not enough for a successful comedy. But not enough really happens with the characters or story to qualify as a successful drama either, so it's stuck awkwardly between genres. I don't have a problem with movies that are both, but a movie shouldn't be neither. LIT is somewhat praiseworthy in avoiding the expected Hollywood movie clichés, but doesn't do enough on its own to really care about. LIT also has its strengths and worthwhile points: the cinematography is outstanding, the acting is good (but not the greatest), and I really did like how the film ended.