pinokiyo It's about a 6.5. There actually isn't that many good films out there about ramen. The 1985 quirky Japanese film "Tampopo" is the only classic/main that really comes to mind.This film actually pays some tribute/homage to the film "Tampopo", because I mean that is a legendary classic film about ramen; there's actually a cameo of one of the main stars from that movie who plays the "ramen judge master". It's such a shame/tragic what happened to Brittany Murphy. She is cute and lively in this film. The film has that whole teen movie vibe - but at the same time, it's toned down by the ramen chef/teacher, played by a really well-known famous Japanese actor Toshiyuki Nishida. He fits the part perfectly. He is so abusive to her.It's actually a bit unrealistic, especially how she can't understand Japanese, yet they still try to communicate with each other/give chances. Despite that nitpicking, the conversations and dialogue still feel genuine. There's some overexaggerated scenes like "you need to put your feelings/soul into the ramen", as if whoever actually eats it ends up feeling the same way - it definitely is a comedy drama. The last conversation with the chef is pretty touching/cute.It's obviously not Oscar worthy, but if you like ramen/fan of Brittany Murphy/Japanese culture, it's a feel good movie. If you like this kind of film, you should also watch a similar sushi version called "East Side Sushi"

Irishchatter I found this film rather different because, it's set in Japan and we get to see the places,language, people, etc. Of course, Brittany Murphy ( RIP ) being the only American girl throughout the whole movie and trying to understand what the Japanese people around her are saying! Honestly, I thought it was rather annoying to not have the subtitles included on this. You can know by their expressions or tone of voice of what's happening and you still don't bloody know what they are talking about! I would've loved to have known what they were truly saying. Anyways I love the fact that Murphy's character found true love again by a wonderful Japanese man. I say, we wish we could have someone like that to make our lives simple, right ladies? HahaI really like this film, it really opens up on what Japanese culture is about. I have to warn you, if you badly need subtitles and you're not good at Japanese, don't panic if you don't know what's happening. I've been there! Just enjoy watching it and it might be a good experience for you!

SnoopyStyle Abby (Brittany Murphy) follows her boyfriend Ethan to Tokyo but he leaves her for a job in Osaka. He also doesn't promise to come back for her because he's the nomadic kind. She has a dull job and speaks little Japanese. She becomes fascinated with the corner ramen shop and begs angry drunk chef Maezumi to teach her the art of cooking ramen. He yells at her a lot and gives her all the dirty jobs.This could have been better. Brittany Murphy is delightful and full of life. Maezumi is very angry. It's a little too off-putting. He needs to dial it down a little. The Japanese boyfriend is too light-weight. He has little chemistry with Murphy. I rather she ends up with the chubby guy. The production is a little lacking and the movie does need more fun magic.

right left Strange thing about this movie is that it has a lot of things wrong with it, but it is still a good movie, because it has a lot of "charm". Not the kind of charm in a movie that is overly contrived, but an actual sincere charm - which is hard to find. Most credit goes to Brittany Murphy for the charm, because she is such a naturally, sweet girl that she just delivers that quality to the whole film. The first problem I would love to address is the Cover of the DVD/Poster/Ad, because it is really awful. It has a "reverse stereotype" of Brittany Murphy in a Kimono with hands clasped. This would be okay for a film that one would think is about a soft-porn, submissive female on Cinemax, but it is not - it's more in the line of Karate Kid, and Shall we Dance. The People who watch expecting to see some White girl in Japan in hot, sexy escapades will be disappointed, and the People who usually watch more cultural, art films would avoid it thinking it's just soft-porn, so this "Cover" just disappoints everyone. The Marketing Dept. should learn from the people who market Fast & the Furious, because those movies sucks big, but always pulls in the audience because people know what to expect.