Review of The Ramen Girl (2008) by Lawrence K — 05 Dec 2009

I love this movie! We all have to make a choice at some point in our lives about what we are going to do for a living, and what we are going to be. Most of us don't have to do it in a country where we do not know the language, and do not really understand the culture. Brittany Murphy shines as a girl who does.

Dumped in Japan by the boyfriend she followed, she drifts in a sometimes seedy, sometimes boringly corporate and usually confusing city. The local ramen restaurant owners do not know what to make of this hysterical woman who shows up babbling in a language they do not know.

Toshiyuki Nishida simply becomes the master ramen chef. It is easy to see why he was nominated for ten Japanese Academy Awards and won twice. His performance is seamless, nuanced, layered and completely brings the character into reality. At the end of this movie I felt like I knew this ramen chef.

The other actors are also wonderful. Kamiko Yo brings depth to what could have been a one-dimensional character. Tammy Blanchard gives an over the top performance as an ex-pat working girl. Sohee Park is the new love interest.

But this is not your typical formula romantic comedy, and that's what I love about it. It's a finding yourself in the most unlikely place, and finding your life's work where you would least expect it.

Did I mention, I really like this movie?