Overrated Vanity Home Movie

Rating: 2/10 (11 April 2004)

As I watched the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes - I got the impression that this film would be something of consequence. It is pure rubbish and terribly miscast with Bill Murray (Who Can Not Act his way out of a paper bag), poorly produced (equally shocking considering the director's parentage), poorly directed (again, considering the director's parentage), not written at all, not funny, not dramatic, is meaningless and a waste of $2.99 plus tax.
Bill Murray as an action star stranded in Tokyo doing whiskey commercials for $2 Million dollars? And, this is not a comedy. Please, spare me. Obviously, Miss Coppola knows people in Hollywood and got some bucks to put on her little production. This is nothing but a "vanity" feature, which would be okay if it had merit.
I am sorry to focus on Sofia - who seems to be a demure, nice girl (woman for the politically correct) in the featurettes that came on the DVD. But, please - can we have some common sense here? She has no talent as a writer or director. I will applaud the photography and the choice of Tokyo - as this is about the only worthwhile thing in the picture. Also, Scarlett Johansson is pleasant to watch - she is able to carry most of the film that is not ruined by Murray trying to act his way of the paper bag.