Jimmy (Huroshi Watanabe) drives people bananas in White on Rice.
Sticky situation
By Miranda Inganni
Jimmy (Huroshi Watanabe) left Japan after his divorce. Ever since then, he has been living with his younger sister, Aiko (Nae), sleeping on the upper bunk bed of her 10-year-old son, Bob (Justin Kwong), and annoying her miserable husband, Tak (Mio Takada), to no end. Where Bob is an overly mature, piano prodigy who has his life extremely together, Jimmy is suffering from Peter Pan syndrome -- he just can't quite bring himself to grow up. As Jimmy searches for his next wife, the generous Aiko agrees to house and feed Jimmy, going as far to chore him as sending him to remind Jimmy to wash his hands before dinner.
In case Tak didn't like Jimmy enough already, things only get worse when Tak's niece, Ramona (Lynn Chen), stays with the family and Jimmy decides that she should be his next bride. While Ramona is flattered and extremely patient with Jimmy, her sights are set on someone else. As Jimmy woos Ramona, he generally makes a mess of things and hilarity ensues.
Jimmy is the opposite of the typical romantic hero. And as much as Aiko mothers her brother, she cannot protect him any more that she can her own son. The big difference is that Bob is more than capable of taking care of himself, where Jimmy just flounders.
Playfully and skillfully directed and co-written by Dave Boyle (Big Dreams in Little Tokyo), White on Rice is a sweet, family dramedy. The acting is superb -- Jimmy is completely annoying and yet lovable -- with the young Kwong stealing every scene he is in.
