SALMON FISHING in the YEMEN  3.7***

 

 

 

        Just when it seemed that so many if not most movies  were  just plain vulgar, boring, and loud,  along comes this near perfect piece of filmmaking. The story, the characters, the actors  and the dialogue (refreshingly witty and at times thought provoking)... it all comes together in such an enjoyable  fashion . Aside from the foul-mouthed politicians (what a surprise, right?), there was not one minute of the movie that most anyone would want change . If you want to come away from a movie-going experience feeling good with plenty of information to discuss afterwards then see "Salmon Fishing in Yemen". It’s no longer in the theatres so you’ll have to rent it or find it on TV.

 

The story: A rich visionary Sheik has the idea of exporting the concept of salmon fishing from his estate in Scotland to the desert areas of the Yemen. Consultant agent Harriet Chetwoode-Talbot (Emily Blunt) works for the Sheik.   He charges Harriet with finding the right people to bring his impossible dream to reality. Enter humorless fisheries expert Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor), whose first reaction to the proposal is that it is outrageous and impossible… Salomon in a desert  ???? . Only later, after meeting Harriet and the Sheik in person, does he realize how deadly serious they are. And when the Prime Minister's PR person, Patricia Maxwell (Kristin Scott-Thomas) gets in on the act - using the project to promote good Anglo-Arab relations following a series of damaging news stories – Jones suddenly finds himself swept along by events that are too big and too fast for him to control. Out in the Yemen at the site of the project, Jones and Harriet find their very different lives unexpectedly converging. Him battling to salvage a failing marriage, her longing for news of her soldier boyfriend missing-presumed-dead in Afghanistan; united in their desire to complete an enterprise that started out as one man's mad folly.
  

Seriously, "Salmon Fishing in The Yemen" is simply a joy to watch. . What makes this such a joy is its impish sense of humor, irreverence toward the British government, the simply delightful acting of leads McGregor and Blunt (who has never looked so good as she does here), the appealing nature of so many characters, and, perhaps most of all, its unpredictability. My wife and I laughed, especially at the British humor, shed  a few tears, and felt  a bit of excitement and danger.   McGregor and Blunt  have  a good  simple screen chemistry between them that is  sweet and low key. The portrayal of the Sheik was very gratifying as many tend to regard those of the Arab world with very suspicious eyes but this one was allowed to breathe, and express faith and heart and humility . Kirstin Scott Thomas made us laugh in her role as the opportunistic Downing Street manipulator but she managed to imbue her role with wit, style and humanity. Thank heavens there are still directors/movie makers who  remember the fine old days of what many people still desire from a Hollywood movie, that being that you don't need explosions and murders every five minutes to entertain. That a fine story with good actors and a knowing director can produce a winning movie.

Clark