When the Yemeni Sheikh wants to introduce salmon fishing in his country, Britain’s leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) is hired to take on the challenge… even though he doesn’t believe in the project at all. Paul Torday’s novel, which is based on real events, has often been described as “original”, which is hardly a word one might use for this adaptation. Some might call it silly or trite, but if you’re willing to suspend some of the disbelief it’s easy to fall for the leading stars. The movie’s best scenes poke fun at government bureaucracy; Kristin Scott Thomas is perfect as a no-nonsense spin doctor.
2012-Britain. 107 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Lasse Hallström. Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy. Novel: Paul Torday. Cast: Emily Blunt (Harriet Chetwoode-Talbot), Ewan McGregor (Alfred Jones), Kristin Scott Thomas (Patricia Maxwell), Amr Waked, Tom Mison, Conleth Hill.