Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt Flounder in ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’

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Average: 4 (1 vote)
HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.5/5.0
Rating: 2.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Often when novels with quirky titles get made into films, all that is left of the quirk is the name on the cover. That is exactly what has happened to “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” a tome authored by Paul Torday, and reduced to torpid blandness by director Lasse Hallstrøm.

Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, competent or funny in other films, are barely awake in this one, and they are supposed to be the romantic spark. There are such odd motivations for all the characters, but instead of seeming offbeat or like satire, they merely add to the confusion of what exactly the film is supposed to be representing. There are some humorous parts, there are some political maneuverings and there is a romance, but each seem separate from the other, and that certainly don’t add up to a cohesive whole.

Ewan McGregor is Dr. Alfred Jones, a British Fisheries expert (typecasting!) who is reluctantly volunteered into a project that involves an eccentric Sheikh Muhammad (Amr Waked). The sheikh is a salmon fishing nut, but laments at his home in the Arab nation of Yemen there are no opportunities for that type of angling – it seems that salmon are a fish species indigenous to north regions like Britain. A public relations film, represented by Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt), are hired by the sheikh to bring salmon fishing to the arid land, and they in turn get Dr. Jones involved.

Emily Blunt (Harriet) and Ewan McGregor in ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’
Emily Blunt (Harriet) and Ewan McGregor (Alfred) in ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’
Photo credit: CBS Films

Alfred and Harriet’s close working relationship begins to stir feelings, but Harriet has given her heart to a British soldier who is in Afghanistan. While the project rolls on, Harriet learns that her boyfriend is missing in action, and she immediately shuts down any possibility of her and Alfred connecting. The fish project has also turned into a political football for Bridget Maxwell (Kristin Scott Thomas), an operative who sees an chance for the Prime Minister to curry votes. All this, and fly fishing too.

Whether it was a conscious decision or not, the blank slate pacing and performances make this film a long haul. MacGregor and Blunt are on that second level star platform and have been better in many other films, but here their talents are wasted in what can only be described as propriety. Their characters are simply too motivated by politeness and professionalism to light any flame. Therefore it doesn’t matter in the least if they get together or not, quite frankly they seem not right for each other.

The Sheikh is another mysteriously motivated person. His vanity project is couched in noble speeches about renewing the land in Yemen, but with the early failures and the backlash against this pursuit, maybe his money would have been spent better elsewhere. There is also an underground faction in Yemen against him, and their observances of a so-called leader spending millions so he can tie a fly and whip a line in the water is understandably in protest. Amr Waked also plays the man as gentle and zen-like, while his minions lurk nearby with protective weaponry. This peculiar contrast doesn’t work.

Some of the push back on the British bureaucratic and political system had some legs in the film. Alfred’s office situation is played absurdly, with several functionaries trying in vain to either facilitate or squelch the project, depending on the wind direction of the moment. Kristin Scott Thomas is fiery as a political flack, turning into the greek chorus of instant messaging. This bit turns out to be a grateful interruption in the main story, which is the soppy potential romance between Alfred and Harriet. The story tries even to extend the bureaucracy to Alfred’s crumbling marriage, but he only manages to look like a cur when he wants out.


Sheikh, Reel & Roll: Amr Waked (Sheikh Mohammad) and Ewan McGregor in ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’
Photo credit: CBS Films

The conclusion to this film is the most annoying act in the overall frustration. It is accomplished with a circumstance that hits like a sledge hammer, after a long narrative appetizer of British subtlety and the Sheikh’s compliance. Disaster looms, plot holes are cemented and couples are coupling, all within about ten breathless minutes. This abrupt pacing switch is the equivalent of rapidly flipping a light switch on and off, which often can look exciting but ultimately is headache inducing.

Here is one sure bet – Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt will not become a post modern Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. There is more legitimate chemistry produced by throwing Mentos in a Coke bottle, and a helluva lot more fizz.

“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” opens everywhere in on March 9th. Featuring Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked and Catherine Steadman. Screenplay Adaptation by Simon Beaufoy. Directed by Lasse Hallstrøm. Rated “PG-13”

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2012 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

Vesna Zafirovski's picture

Salmon Fishing in The Yemen

Even though the film might take a flight of fancy with the reality of the enterprise and its worth (sport fishing in the desert, really?!) it is a fun and charming film. If someone really wanted to see true inspiration they should go to “Undefeated” or “Saving faces”. As for my husband and myself - we smiled a lot and came with a good feeling from the theater.

Manny be down's picture

Salmon Fishing in The Yemen

Wowthis was the best movie I saw this year I love it

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