I hate bumping older threads, so I'll just comment here--- First, I'll say that it would be really quite difficult to put Bill Murray + Scarlet Johansen in a light commedy and have it be completely horrible--- I don't think it's any shock that it did well.
I do think that people like those whom write at lostinracism.org are a bit daft--- I mean, do Asian New Yorkers really need to come to the defence of Japan?
It's a movie, and some parts can seem racist, because people aren't perfect by any means--- the movie wouldn't even be the same movie if both the characters treated each new experience as if it were their personal pleasure to endure it... that's just the way it goes---
The best part of the movie, as mentioned, is the part w/ Mathews Best Hit TV...