Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

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Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

PG-13

Released Mar 9, 2012

1h 51m

Comedy

Drama

Romance

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Popcornmeter

68%

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150 Reviews

64%

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25,000+ Ratings

Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) is a fisheries scientist who one day receives an unusual request: A businesswoman named Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt) wants his help in fulfilling a wealthy sheik's (Amr Waked) request to bring sport fishing to Yemen. Jones declines at first, but when the British prime minister's spokeswoman latches on to the project as a way to improve Middle East relations, he joins in. Romance blooms as Jones and Harriet work to make the sheik's dream come true.

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Critics Consensus

Quirky and a little reserved, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is nonetheless a charming little romantic drama sold by some strong central performances.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

OK, if this film teaches us anything, it teaches us how to take a perfectly fine book and transform it into a mushy, corny, ghastly mess of the most trying kind.

Aug 31, 2018

Full Review

Kimber Myers

The Playlist

It's an affable, inoffensive British comedy that just wants you to like it so much that you can't help but snicker behind its back.

Rated: C+

Aug 15, 2013

Full Review

David Sexton

London Evening Standard

Unfortunately, these characters belong to different worlds that don't meld, cartoonish political satire and dopey romcom.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 20, 2012

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Enjoyable even with its flaws, of which there are many, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen has enough of a sweet romance to earn a mild recommendation.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 5, 2022

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” has charm, a lot of heart, and some really good laughs.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 25, 2022

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Jack Fleischer

Battleship Pretension

Based on the popular epistolary novel of the same name, this is not a political documentary, but rather a light, British, romantic comedy...

Mar 24, 2021

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Gary L

Sometimes a cigar is just a smoke. A pleasant little story. The three leads are charming. Scott Thomas adds a little bit of bite. It does nothing to bring peace to the middle east or raise the status of salmon in the international world of fish. Nor does it seek to. A pleasant few hours. A mildly offbeat story, well acted, professionally directed. Not every movie has to be The Godfather Trilogy... Or the first two thirds of The Godfather Trilogy.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

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Sean S

The two amazing leads carry this movie and make it truly delightful. The scenery is breathtaking as well.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/07/23

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Andrea C

Film dall'idea romantica che mantiene i toni leggeri evitando di introdursi in discussioni troppo pesanti dal punto di vista della politica e dell'ideologia. I personaggi sono ben costruiti e le loro storie sono chiare, fruibili ed identificabili. Ovviamente l'originalità del concetto su cui si basa l'opera lascia aperte numerose possiblità, alcune delle quali vengono sfruttate piuttosto bene. Forse stona la storia d'amore con il militare disperso che sembra veramente non necessaria per la qualità della trama e anzi ne mina parzialmente l'originalità. Non è un film fatto per diventare un capolavoro, ma è un film godibile ed interessante che sicuramente non è stato già visto altrove.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/23

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Blob d

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen offers fine performance from the two leads but fails to drive its interesting narrative with any distinctive sequences, making the experience quite forgettable.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/19/23

Full Review

Hans Olav H

It is a hidden gem, or maybe the rare catch of the perfect salmon. It is quirky but warm and funny.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/18/23

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D H

Well, I just loved this movie. Funny and charming,. So uplifting, wonderful performances by Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt with beautiful scenery too. We could do with more movies like this.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/23

Full Review

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Lasse Hallström

Director

Ewan McGregor

Dr. Alfred Jones

Emily Blunt

Harriet

Amr Waked

The Sheikh

Kristin Scott Thomas

Patricia Maxwell

Tom Mison

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Synopsis

Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) is a fisheries scientist who one day receives an unusual request: A businesswoman named Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt) wants his help in fulfilling a wealthy sheik's (Amr Waked) request to bring sport fishing to Yemen. Jones declines at first, but when the British prime minister's spokeswoman latches on to the project as a way to improve Middle East relations, he joins in. Romance blooms as Jones and Harriet work to make the sheik's dream come true.

Director: Lasse Hallström
Producer: Paul Webster
Screenwriter: Simon Beaufoy
Distributor: CBS Films
Production Co: BBC Film, Kudos Pictures, UK Film Council, Davis Films, CBS Films
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Brief Language|Some Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 28, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $73.0K
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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