A very demanding movie

Rating: Null/10 (2 March 2004)

Not only the movie was torturously slow, I was torn by the demands of the movie.
I was supposed to care about the two characters. Bob was having a mid-life crisis (what's new?) while Charlotte was trying to figure out what to do with her degree in philosophy (she gained my sympathy right away).
Although their spouses were presented deliberately in the background by the director, I couldn't help but had more interest and respect for the spouses. Bob's wife was back home managing a home improvement project and parenting (isn't a happy childhood important to anyone?). Charlotte's husband was following a concert tour, photographing.
I was supposed to understand while Bob and Charlotte were hanging out in Tokyo with the "so what" or "now what" attitude. Out of all places, am I supposed to believe Tokyo (or New York City for that matter) is a boring place to hang around for a few days?
I was supposed to laugh when the movie was making fun of other people's accent. Suspending one's disbelief is one thing, but suspending one's sensitivity is another.