Tom Hanks has the global business blues in “A Hologram for the King.” Sent to Saudi Arabia on a mission to sell an expensive computer system to the royal family, Hanks wrestles with his personal demons, including divorce, a daughter at loose ends, and business decisions in his past that wrecked the lives of a factory full of workers. The outlook for a sale looks dim and going home empty-handed appears to extinguish Hanks’ last chance. And then there’s the question of the boil on Hanks’ back, which brings him into the hands of Saudi doctor Sarita Choudhury. They strike up an East-West friendship, not an easy thing in Saudi society. Their connection turns “A Hologram for the King” from the tale of a desperate middle-aged peddler to the story of a man and woman facing the possibility of something new. I like the optimism and the message that you’re never too old to have a coming of age. Does it deliver what it promises? Midlife change and romance. Is it entertaining? Quirky and interesting. Is it worth the price of admission? Likable.
