Salmon Fishing in the Yemen Review - 3.5 Stars

The great director Lasse Hallstrom (of “My life as a Dog” “The Cider House Rules” “Chocolat” “What’s Eating gilbert Grape?” and many many other movie delights) spins a story about politics, fishing, and romance in the charming a manner his fans have come to expect.  Ewan McGregor plays a British fishing expert called upon by an ambitious British press secretary (the always great Kristin Scott Thomas) to aid an Arab sheik in his quest to create fishing in the desert.  Into the mix comes Emily Blunt as the sheik’s financial representative and the girlfriend of a missing British officer.  I have come to really respect McGregor, especially since his turn in this year’s “Beginners”, and Blunt in almost everything she makes but particularly “The Devil Wears Prada.”  McGregor’s skeptical of the idea of creating a stream for salmon to spawn in the desert but of course comes around to the project as he gets more and more attracted to Blunt and as he comes under the spell of the Sheik played by Amr Waked.  Most of the audience walked out with a smile and an uplift, not a bad result for a night at the movies.  Does it deliver what it promises?  Quirky romance.  Is it entertaining?  Very much.  Is it worth the price of admission?  For a smile.