Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen is one of those books where you may have heard of the title, but only a few people will actually be able to name the author (Paul Torday, to give him his due). After watching this film it’s possible you may have a similar experience if a few months down the line someone asked you about it. You’ll probably be able to tell people what it was about (the clue’s in the title or something), but in terms of what actually happens I expect you’ll be floundering like a fish in a desert. What does happen is that Fred Jones (Ewan McGregor), a government expert on the salmon industry, is pressured by the PM into helping a wealthy Yemeni sheikh (Amr Waked) introduce the sport of salmon fishing to his desert country. He’s aided by consultant Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt), who Fred falls for, but Fred is already married and Harriet is traumatised due to her soldier boyfriend being declared missing in action. Reading all that back, it sounds a bit over the top. The film succeeds though if you don’t take it too seriously. There’s plenty of social and class differences hinted at, but the film doesn’t ram it down the viewer’s throats and is all the better for it. Whether the filmmakers did this by choice or if it’s occurred by chance is harder to work out though. Veteran Swedish director Lasse Hallstrom calls the shots here and he’s a safe pair of hands for such material, though he doesn’t quite put the audience through the emotional wringer like he’s done in the past, but I put that down to the fact that the actual characters aren’t overly sympathetic. McGregor and Blunt are both fine on the acting front (though hardly believable as a couple), but its Kristin Scott Thomas as the foul-mouthed ball busting press secretary to the Prime Minister who steals the film. She’s basically a female version of Malcolm Tucker and the movie goes up a gear whenever she appears. Overall, despite the big issues which propel the story along, this is light stuff and is more suited to a Sunday afternoon viewing at home (or, dare I say it…a book?) as opposed to the big screen treatment.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Some dry laughs to be had in a film which, at times, is as odd as its title. Rating: 7/10.