With our movie theaters overwhelmed with action, sci-fi and horror flicks—not to mention poorly plotted summer comedies—the very premise of this movie is a refreshing change. As the title bluntly states, screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (127 Hours and Slumdog Millionaire) takes the oh-so-British sport of fly-fishing to arid Yemen. Throw in stars Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt and you’ve got a pretty enticing package.
British fisheries expert Dr. Alfred Jones (McGregor) is approached by a young, charming and enthusiastic business consultant Harriet (Blunt) to set up a US$50-million-dollar project in Yemen initiated by Sheikh Muhammed (Amr Waked) who wants to bring fly-fishing to his country. Given the heat, Jones initially rejects the idea that salmons can survive in the region. But as violence escalates in Afghanistan, Jones begins to see his mission as a kind of diplomatic duty to restore goodwill between England and Arab nations.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is neither really about fish, nor Yemen, but it is about overcoming impossible odds, overcoming cultural barriers and the power of faith. The social and political backdrop of Islam-West tensions is also very much at stake, even if it’s treated with humor.
However, compared to Beaufoy’s previous efforts, this film still lacks unity, particular as the second half of the story steps way too far into clichéd Hollywood rom-com territory—and that the chirpy hopes for a brighter future hardly seem grounded in reality. Fortunately, the overall strength of the acting among all three leading characters, the inspiring story line and the beautiful cinematography (book us a ticket to Yemen right now!) save the day.