A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible.(IMDb)
I had heard of Salmon Fishing when the film was released a few weeks ago, but as I hadn't read the book and didn't know much about it, I had no intentions to make any effort to see it. That was until a friend went to see it and only had good thinks to say about it. I was meant to be going to see American Pie: Reunion with a few mates today, but due to a last minute change of plans I was the only one still free to go to the cinema. I decided to take the opportunity to see Salmon Fishing instead, and I'm glad I did.
Salmon Fishing is an easy to watch, entertaining film that was well suited to my afternoon visit to the cinema. It is a romantic comedy with a bit of drama thrown in, but it's definitely not a standard 'rom-com'. It's genuinely funny throughout, with many of the laugh out loud moments coming from Kristen Scott Thomas' character. She plays the Prime Minister's Press Secretary, who is not too dissimilar to Malcolm Tucker off of The Thick of It. Also, the storyline isn't completely predicable, with several events cropping up unexpectedly to change any thoughts you have about where the film is going. A few of these events hint at a side story involving the Sheikh, but I feel that the film doesn't explore this area enough, leaving the drama a bit on the light side.
Ewan McGregor plays his part well, a similar character in Salmon Fishing to his character in The Ghost, another great film. The rough plot line of traveling to a different country, to work for an individual, doing something you aren't very positive about is also a common feature in both films. But the similarities stop there.
Overall, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was quite enjoyable and will appeal to a wide audience, but it probably won't be the biggest blockbuster of the year. It's a film best kept for a quiet, rainy Sunday afternoon when you have a couple of hours to fill.
Rating = **** (One to buy on DVD)
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