Netflix'ns: The Ramen Girl

Netflix'ns is a series of review shorts of films, new and old, seen on Netflix, be it DVD or streaming. For better or worse, I sat through these films and have lived to tell the tale. These are not so much reviews as just comments on the film watched. Some will be first time views, others will be revisits. This is a work in progress.



It's been awhile since I actually watched a movie on Netflix, I have been using it more for television of late. In any case, I took a shot at The Ramen Girl. It looked interesting and I kind of like Brittany Murphy, always thought she has an intriguing screen presence that generally entertained even in bad movies (I remember liking Just Married). Anyway, this seems like one of the lesser known titles in her filmography, but it looks like one that should given a look see.

Murphy stars as Abby, a young woman who has given up everything to move to Tokyo and be with her boyfriend, Ethan. You see, she is tired of the long distance thing and wants to give this a go. It turns out that her boyfriend is something of a commitment-phobe and no sooner has see arrived, he is packing and heading for the door.

Distraught, Abby finds herself in a noodle shop run by Maezumi, a rather cantankerous fellow. The two don't understand each other but he and his wife see she is upset and offer her a bowl of ramen soup. She is touched by the kindness and returns the next day and thus begins a revelation. She finds she has a new direction to take with her life. She wants to learn to make ramen and make people happy.

She annoys her way into a student/teacher relationship with Maezumi. What follows is a breaking down of his mean wall and a change in her, she finds out the truth about herself and begins to see life in a new way. It is nothing new or mindblowing, but it is told in such a way that it is hard not to like it. It is an endearing trifle of a movie that also offers a glimpse into another culture.

It has some funny moments, some true heart, and is just a very easy movie to watch. I say you should give it a shot.



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