Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Yes, the title is self explanatory... for the most part. Here's the official synopsis. 

From the beloved director of Chocolat and the Oscar®-winning screenwriter of Slumdog Millionaire comes the inspirational comedy Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. A visionary sheik (Amr Waked) believes his passion for the peaceful pastime of salmon fishing can enrich the lives of his people, and he dreams of bringing the sport to the not so fish-friendly desert. Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative (Emily Blunt) to turn the dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain's leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable. That is, until the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a 'good will' story. Now, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible.

The Star was giving out 45 pairs to see this at a preview screening at the second home this week - by the time I got there a little after 7.30 p.m., it was already over and some lady was hanging around trying to give away some leftover passes, and I got one. The room wasn't full (and also mostly retirees), so I really didn't understand how the tickets could go so fast - I probably could've moved to a better seat (being in the front row -__-), but I couldn't be arsed. 

Making Ewan McGregor's character have Asperger's was only semi-believable, unless his Asperger's was a mild form. The IM conversations between the press secretary and the PM is laugh out loud stupid hilarious. I don't know why they bothered with the project sabotage and assassination attempt angle.  

Despite the bizarre title which sounds more like a History Channel reality show than a movie, I actually didn't mind Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. The on-screen chemistry between McGregor and Blunt was believable. You just really need to suspend all disbelief when you go in to watch this. No, you don't have to be into fishing to enjoy this.