I want so much to like this movie. Everyone else does. It's watchable, the acting is decent, the photography is superb (it's no Manhattan, but it's really, really good.), and the subject is intriguing.

Yes, I get it. I understand that it's about connection and communication on levels beyond language, that two lost, misunderstood, under-appreciated souls find each other in a sea foreign tongues, mispronounced "Engrish" and Japanese kitsch. The non-verbal communication where Scarlett Johanson was just looking at Bill Murry spoke volumes on how intimacy can be built by two people put into awkward situations together. And it was cool that Bill didn't seduce her, so that makes him super nice and sympathetic.

Yeah right. Like that would ever happen. I guess that was my problem with the movie, it just didn't seem plausible. On any level. But, it's still watchable.