Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Brooklynn There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

MartinHafer While I will be the first to admit that "White on Rice" didn't always work, the overall picture is so fresh and quirky that I still recommend it. It's a film from David Boyle--a writer/director/actor who totally captivated me and my wife when we recently saw his "Big Dreams Little Tokyo". Using the barest of budgets, Boyle has managed to once again make a film with characters you just have to love--very, very quirky ones at that.Jimmy is a pathetic Japanese divorcée who has left his country and moved in with his sister's family in the States. Jimmy is nearing 40 and has little to show for himself--not much of a job, no love life and he sleeps in the top bunk of his nephew's bunk-bed! However, when his brother-in-law's niece moves in temporarily, the dopey Jimmy is totally infatuated and soon behaves like an even bigger dope. At times, he is a little creepy--like a stalker--and I wish the film had not made him quite so extreme and creepy here. But, just when it seems to have gone over the top, it fortunately finds its way.Throughout the story, there are LOTS of wonderful characters. The nephew, Bob, is great. So is the Banana Lady and many other folks scattered throughout the film. This is DEFINITELY a film for those who like independent cinema and want a film totally un-Hollywood in style. Well worth seeing despite a few lulls.By the way, that's the director, David Boyle, inside the coffin in the funeral home segment! He's the second body you see and you have to look close for him in his trademark geek glasses. This is a WONDERFUL touch for his fans--as is seeing a poster for "White on Rice" in his previous film, "Big Dreams Little Tokyo"! Cute.

eshvartz A remarkable movie about yet another piece of the American mosaic yet it really reminds the viewer of himself and the people in his life."White on Rice" strikes a perfect balance between the interesting and attracting side of cinema and the honest and realistic one.Clean and esthetically made comedy that captures the simple thrills of ordinary peoples lives.Light and fun to watch but also makes you think afterward.It's these combinations that make this movie so worth watching, the current low score it has is unjustified.If you're open minded and unaffected by stereotypes you will really enjoy this movie. Warmly recommended, Eitan

biggins2 This movie is very funny. It started out a little slow, and the humor sometimes depends on awkwardness (which isn't my favorite type, but if you like the Office it will probably appeal to you more), but there were a lot of great one-liners that I'll probably remember and quote for a long time. The acting was very good, especially the nephew (I believe the character's name was Bob?) who was wonderfully deadpan. It's kind of like a Japanese Napoleon Dynamite, with a touch of The Office mixed in, but endearing in its own way. I would definitely recommend it to just about anyone. (Warning: there is a fair amount of comedic blood in two scenes, so if you're queasy about that look away during the obvious scenes)

Sid Unrau I took a co-worker, who had never heard of the movie or anyone in it. I heard about the movie on my local morning radio station - the main radio star (Jimmy Chunga) is in the movie (albeit a bit part). I had no idea what to expect and was absolutely delighted that it was quirky, silly, ridiculous, campy and everything else I loved about Napoleon Dynamite, except this time set in Salt Lake City (unnamed in the movie) and featuring the clash of culture between Japanese-Americans and Japanese- socially-challenged-folk. It is not for wee ones, but there's nothing overly offensive in the movie. Funny thing: by the end of the movie, I actually cared about the main characters, and couldn't help but think how clever the writers were keeping the characters internally consistent in their interactions. I just couldn't stop laughing during the movie - or long afterwords as my co-worker and I relived our favorite moments.