Salmon Fishing In The Yeman

The British film industry seems to be the place to make the feel-good comedy. This is their latest attempt.
Fishing is not something that I find very interesting. I can understand the meditative qualities but it is not a sport or activity that I like to do. In the film there is the character of Patricia Maxwell, a political press representative who is looking for a good news story from the Middle East. 'Salmon Fishing In The Yeman' is much like that. A good news story from the Middle East. Most of the films made about that region are about the war and all the horrors that go on so it is refreshing to see something that makes you feel good. The story is quite charming and fairly cliched but there is enough humour to keep you interested. The idea of trying to start fishing in a desert region sounds like a crazy scheme. So it is not a subject you take seriously. But as our lead character, Dr. Alfred Jones learns, some crazy schemes can turn out to be not so crazy.
Ewan McGregor is such a versatile actor that he can play many different roles in many different genres. He is delightful as the charming nerd in this film. He has a bumbling quality that makes his character very endearing. It is why Emily Blunt's character falls in love with him. Emily nicely plays the rather prim representative of the sheik. Emily manages to make her character delightful when it could have been so easily to make her plain. By far and away the main reason to see this film is Kristen Scott-Thomas. She is hilarious in the film and appears to be relishing the chance to play such a juicy character. 

Once again the British have made a charming and delightful film that lets them keep their trademark on the phrase 'feel good'.