Rice Girl

This is a very fun movie. Lighthearted, goofy/silly comedy with facial expressions to match had me cracking up. There are scenes which are a particular riot, like when Windy sees the Russian acting coach and shows him her slapstick sample tape, and we see his reaction to it. And then there's the cop with the powdered donut, Windy chowing down on fish heads, and the wrestler with the Godzilla-ish roar to keep up the silliness.

I'd love to see more movies with Cheryl Ling, the character of Windy is wonderfully likable, even if not so bright.

This movie also carries a Christian message not normally seen in a Hollywood production, in a nice way.

I got some mileage out of the catchy "Sticky Rice" song, which stayed in my head but not in an annoying way.

This movie is good for people who like this type of humor. A word of warning: You may not want to watch it with your young kids unless you want to explain what a hooker is.

Man, movie is a little quirky but hilarious. I watched it 3 times in two days. It was a little hard to follow at first but I got it. Very funny. Very quirk. Cheryl Ling looks good and the movie is original. 3 stars out of 4

Cheryl Monk's first film,"Rice Girl" is a lighthearted spoof of the standard Hollywood newbie starlet cliche. The film follows the outrageous misadventures of Windy Yee (played by Cheryl Monk), who has managed to squander the money her family sent for her education on acting lessons and is trying desperately to land a role in any film to prove to her family that her dream is worth following.

When she reads that Director Martini (Dean Haglund) is looking for the perfect actor for his new move, "Hooker X," Windy decides that this part will be the perfect opportunity for her. She hands her savings over to the worst method acting coach in the world (played by film veteran Yevgeni Lazarev), to learn the magic technique that will make her perfect for the lead in the movie. His bad advice sends her off to learn the art of acting like a hooker from a real hooker (played by the outrageously hip and sassy Kay Billings) -- and straight into the vice squad investigation being run by Detectives Tom Monk (Ian Lithgow) and Alan Long (Joe Estevez.)

The silliness continues as Windy's outrageously uptight and extremely religious roommate starts praying for her "lost sister" and turns Windy's pet goldfish, Eddie, into a guardian angel, played with gleeful panache by newcomer Bryan Frank.

This is a film that never takes itself seriously. The zany, Chuck Jones style of the physical comedy heightens the absurdity of the plot.

Featured guest appearances by veteran actors added sparkle to the movie. Pat Morita turns in one of the funniest scenes as a shopkeeper confronting Hollywood's mot incompetent bandit (newcomer Mario Gallegos,) while Martin Kove as Captain Ron Williams seemed to have a wonderful time chewing up the scenery. Lone Gunmen actor Dean Haglund closes the movie with a first-rate improved rant scene that will have you in stitches.

Enjoyable and fast-paced. Recommended for all ages.

Rice Girl, a 2003 production directed by Michael Fischa with Cheryl Ling in her starring and writing debut as Windy Yee. This is the story of a struggling actress and her misadventures in trying to win the starring role of Hooker X a fictional major motion picture production.

Windy is told by her acting teacher Mr. Roulette that in order to get the part of Hooker X she must learn how to turn tricks, eat, breath, think, live and become like a hooker, none of which sits well with Windy's best friend and roommate Darla, a devout Christian. Windy dismisses her friends concerns and proceeds on her mission of obtaining her life long quest of movie stardom. While researching the role as Hooker X Windy is befriended by a real hooker, played by Jacqueline Jetter as Jaundra Rolle, meets a rouges gallery of characters along the way and after a prayerful intervention by her friend Darla, is blessed with the assistance of a guardian angel.

Rice Girl is an interesting mixture of physical comedy, slapstick humor, sex, and religion. Ms. Ling is a delight to behold, her physical presence, charm and over-the-top portrayal lends itself nicely to the role as the naïve and guileless Windy Yee who struggles to learn the part of Hooker X without actually letting it becoming part of her.

Rice Girl also stars many well known actors such as Ian Lithgow (Third Rock from the Sun), Martin Kove (Cagney and Lacy, The Karate Kid), Dean Haglund (The X Files), Joe Estevez and the late Noriyuki "Pat" Morita (Midway, Happy Days, Karate Kid).

Rice Girl is most definitely a guilty pleasure to watch and experience, slightly risqué, and a gentle and fun prod to those struggling to reach for the stars and determined enough not to give up.

This story of an Asian American actress (Cheryl Monk, who wrote and executive produced) trying to make it in Hollywood is played out through a series of vignettes that include an encounter with a Russian acting coach and a fairly hilarious scene in a Chinese seafood restaurant. Interwoven with this tale is a plot thread involving the undercover police officer (Ian Lithgow) and his efforts to redeem himself in the eyes of his superiors, including Martin Kove (The Karate Kid, Cagney & Lacey) after a narcotics bust goes hysterically awry.

Aided and abetted by a guardian Angel named Eddie, who transforms from a talking goldfish into a wisecracking spirit in the vein of Mr. Jordan from "Heaven Can Wait," Cheryl perseveres in her efforts to secure the plum role of "Hooker X" in the upcoming film to be directed by an auteur director played by the X-Files' Dean Haglund (The Lone Gunmen).

Standout performances in this film are delivered by the easygoing Ian Lithgow, who, at times, is reminiscent of radio personality and Comedy Central mainstay Adam Carolla, Jacqueline Jetter as Cheryl's tutor in the world of prostitution, and Cheryl Monk, who has a wonderfully madcap quality about her performance. Yes, it's a low budget production, but the plot is amusing, the pacing breezy, and apart from a typically over-the-top performance by Martin Sheen's brother, Joe Estevez, the acting is within acceptable limits for a farce without being too hammy. All in all, a very cute film.