The Ramen Girl (2008)

49% of users liked it
(4,380 ratings)

Abandoned by her boyfriend after following him to Tokyo, an American slacker adrift in a foreign culture witnesses the healing power of food and determines to become a ramen chef. When Abby (Brittany Murphy) arrived in Tokyo, she assumed she was starting a new life with her boyfriend. But that… More Abandoned by her boyfriend after following him to Tokyo, an American slacker adrift in a foreign culture witnesses the healing power of food and determines to become a ramen chef. When Abby (Brittany Murphy) arrived in Tokyo, she assumed she was starting a new life with her boyfriend. But that future fades when Abby's boyfriend disappears, leaving her to fend for herself in a city she doesn't understand. In desperate need of a little consolation, the floundering American begins frequenting her neighborhood ramen shop. She feels comfortable there, and recognizes how happy food can make people by the radiant smiles on the customer's faces. Convinced that her true calling is to become a ramen chef, Abby eventually persuades the restaurant's temperamental, tyrannical Japanese chef to become her mentor in the art of making ramen. Though at first their relationship is almost unbearably contentious, the master and his student eventually find a common ground when Abby realizes that the secret ingredient to true ramen is a universe of feeling. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Robert Allan Ackerman
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 23, 2008 Wide
On DVD: May 26, 2009
Studio: Image Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
may make you hungry, but it won't warm your heart.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
It's lovely and sweet and just gosh darn huggable, and if the plot trips up along the way, we're easy to forgive.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Alexis N

First of all I'd like to say I never cared much for Brittany Murphy after she lost all her weight and put it in her lips. But it was sad watching this movie knowing that she's dead. Anyway, this movie was really cute and a romantic fish out of water story. Noodles bring… More
First of all I'd like to say I never cared much for Brittany Murphy after she lost all her weight and put it in her lips. But it was sad watching this movie knowing that she's dead. Anyway, this movie was really cute and a romantic fish out of water story. Noodles bring people together.
Cassandra M

I think a large part of the negative reaction comes from expectations about what the film is or should be. First of all, this is not a remake of Tampopo, nor is it about food. It actually borrows more from "Like Water for Chocolate" than Tampopo, but the food subplot is an… More
I think a large part of the negative reaction comes from expectations about what the film is or should be. First of all, this is not a remake of Tampopo, nor is it about food. It actually borrows more from "Like Water for Chocolate" than Tampopo, but the food subplot is an afterthought and a bit of a distraction. It isn't really a rom-com though there is a romantic interest in there. Nor is it really a East meets West type of thing either though that certainly is an element. It is a story about a young girl, who like many young people have wandered aimlessly expecting that life will just happen for them. The Japanese expectation that a big company will take care of them for life is not that much different from the American expectations. Our ramen girl discovers that such a lack of passion and spirit, even when the ingredients are there and all the right steps are followed will lead to a bland soup. A simple metaphor but done fairly well. Brittany Murphy is surprisingly good as the ramen girl and her interactions with the gruff ramen-nazi (wonderfully played by Toshiyuki Nishida) are hilarious. The development of the relationship between the two of them was very well done. I quite enjoyed this film and recommend it as a light pleasant diversion that brings a smile to your face - like a good bowl of ramen should...
Nicki M

Nice film. A little slow and may not appeal to all, but nice little story about finding yourself. Brittany Murphy is a little over the top, but so likeable you can over look it.
Dean M

Brittany Murphy makes her best performance in this delicious, whimsical tale about life, love and the perfect bowl of noodles. This American-Japanese story is quite familiar as <i>Lost in Translation</i> meets <i>Chocolat</i>.
Dannielle A

A very sweet comedy that has a good message about finding out who you are and having a passion for life.
Fascade F

The light hearted comedy was huge in the department of warm and wonderful. The late Brittany Murphy really shined in her performance of a young woman left stranded and out of bounds in the relationship department. In order to get her life back in order she decides to leave her dead… More
The light hearted comedy was huge in the department of warm and wonderful. The late Brittany Murphy really shined in her performance of a young woman left stranded and out of bounds in the relationship department. In order to get her life back in order she decides to leave her dead end job and become a Ramen Chef. Her "sensei" tutor under the roughest conditions possible to discourage her. Despite all odds, she holds onto her sanity from the lost loves in her life and perseveres...or does she? See this film if you need a quick pick me up from a torn apart love shreaded heart...
Leo L

Intriguing movie! Abby is a young woman, out of college, and staying with her boyfriend in Japan. Wanting to avoid a long distance relationship, Abby is now experiencing the cultural and language difference of a new country. As she settles in, her boyfriend decides to end their… More
Intriguing movie! Abby is a young woman, out of college, and staying with her boyfriend in Japan. Wanting to avoid a long distance relationship, Abby is now experiencing the cultural and language difference of a new country. As she settles in, her boyfriend decides to end their relationship and she is left all alone. Wanting to give up and go back to America, she sees a local eatery and decides to avoid the loneliness of her apartment. There, she meets a raman chef and his wife and the two become her closest supporters. She relents, and decides to stay longer and enjoy her experiences in Japan. Great cast- Brittany Murphy, Sohee Park, Toshiyuki Nishida, Kimiko Yo, Tammy Blanchard, Renji Ishibashi, and Gabriel Mann. Worthy!
Jason R

Surprisingly good, a really heart-felt story with great characters that you can feel for and get behind throughout the film.