Reporting Jan Wahl
You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl’s movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.
(KCBS) – Jan Wahl reviews “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” starring Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas and Amr Waked.
Listen To Jan Wahl’s Movie Review
SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN (PG-13)
Swedish director Lasse Hallstrom previously gave us “Chocolat” and “The Cider House Rules,” two fine dramas. “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” (PG-13) is also complex and full of human emotion, with some much needed comic relief, but less satisfying than the previous films. In this rather bizarre tale, we meet a wealthy, powerful Sheik from Yemen, determined to bring salmon fishing to his country through dame creation and fish import. An uptight British civil servant is his point man (Ewan McGregor), who immediately starts working closely with the Sheik’s lovely assistant, Emily Blunt. Kristen Scott Thomas is the most fun in this eccentric tale, playing the Prime Minister’s PR person with comic clarity. Unfortunately, the comedy falls flat everywhere else and there is an ill advised subplot of terrorists that steal the fun and change the tone. Two hats.
FRIENDS WIITH KIDS (R)
The good news about “Bridesmaids” is that it gave us smart comedy and a romantic journey told from women’s viewpoints. The bad news is that many movies now made by – or for – women need to be coarse, crude and offensive in order to chase the success of the far more original Bridesmaids. Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein) co-wrote, directed and stars in “Friends With Kids” (R), a story of two best friends who decide to have a baby together while keeping their relationship platonic. They see how traditional parenthood has altered their friends’ relationships for the worst, so this is something different. Sound stupid yet? It is, even with the help of terrific actors like Jon Hamm, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig. They do their best, especially a courageous performance by a bitter, cynical Hamm. One hat.
Watch On Video/DVD:
“Like Crazy,” “Hugo” and “J. Edgar”
See Now:
“A Separation,” “The Artist,” “Undefeated,” “My Week With Marilyn,” “The Descendants” and “The Iron Lady”
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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