Watch The Ramen Girl

The Ramen Girl is a charming and heartwarming 2008 romantic comedy-drama directed by Robert Allan Ackerman. It stars the late Brittany Murphy in her final leading role as Abby, an American woman who finds herself stranded in Tokyo after breaking up with her boyfriend. The movie was filmed entirely in Tokyo, giving an authentic glimpse of the vibrant culture, architecture, and cuisine of Japan.

Abby is a young woman who has followed her boyfriend to Tokyo and dreams of becoming an actress. However, upon arriving in Japan, she realizes that her boyfriend has left her and returned to the United States, leaving her alone in a foreign country with no job, no money, and no place to stay. She wanders the streets of Tokyo, feeling lost and abandoned, when she stumbles upon a ramen shop run by the gruff and stern but talented chef Maezumi (Toshiyuki Nishida).

Abby becomes fascinated with the art of making ramen, and despite not speaking Japanese and Maezumi refusing to teach her, she decides to stay and learn the craft. She becomes a regular customer at the shop, determined to learn everything she can about making the perfect bowl of ramen. Maezumi slowly begins to soften towards her and takes her under his wing as his apprentice.

As Abby struggles to learn from the strict and traditional Maezumi, she also starts to make friends with the quirky and eclectic group of regulars at the ramen shop, including a young girl named Toshi (Tammy Blanchard) who works at a nearby strip club. Toshi offers to help Abby learn Japanese and they quickly become close friends, with Toshi becoming like a confidant to Abby.

The Ramen Girl is not just a movie about the art of making ramen but is also a story about the power of friendship, culture shock and finding oneself in a foreign land. Abby is a fish out of water in Japan, but she slowly adapts to her new surroundings and the customs of her new home. Her passion for ramen and her determination to succeed also inspire her to take control of her life, learning to live with purpose and intention while discovering her passion for cooking.

Brittany Murphy delivers a captivating performance as Abby, showcasing her range as an actress with a mix of humor, passion, and vulnerability. Toshiyuki Nishida is equally impressive as the stoic but lovable Maezumi, bringing depth and complexity to a character that could have easily been a one-dimensional stereotype. Tammy Blanchard also shines as the spunky but troubled Toshi, offering a refreshing take on a character that could have easily been reduced to a stock tough-girl persona.

The Ramen Girl's soundtrack is also noteworthy, featuring a mix of J-pop, rap and traditional Japanese music, providing a dramatic backdrop to the narrative's emotional highs and lows. The film's vibrant cinematography, as well as the mouth-watering imagery of the shimmering broth and noodles piled high in the bowl, will leave the audience craving a bowl of steaming hot ramen.

In conclusion, The Ramen Girl is a delightful film that is sure to please audiences searching for an uplifting and inspiring story. It is a poignant meditation on the search for meaning and identity, as well as a celebration of Japanese culture and cuisine. Brittany Murphy's excellent performance and the film's loving depiction of Tokyo make it a must-watch for fans of romantic comedies and Japanophiles alike.

The Ramen Girl is a 2008 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.