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Here's a look at the full-length review for "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen." One of its stars, Emily Blunt, also has a cool new movie opening Friday called "The Five-Year Engagement." Additionally, due to travel, reviews of other new movies will appear next week. That being said, I'll leave you with a joke. "It seems to me that the 'Lucky One' is really the man who's wife/girlfriend doesn't know this Nicholas Sparks film is being released!"

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Starring: Ewan McGreggor, Emily Blunt, Amr Waked, and Kristen Scott Thomas
Synopsis: Over the years, Lasse Hallstrom has delivered a number of emotionally moving films. His films have developed characters, emotional conflict, and a bit of humor. That’s certainly the case with his latest film, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.” On the surface, it seems like a strange title and a strange film. It’s about a British investment advisor and a British scientist helping a Yemen royal bring fresh water salmon to the dessert. Given the description you’d think it was a “60-Minutes” special or a documentary feature, not a romantic dramedy. But based on the novel from Paul Torday and working on a script from Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire,” “127 Hours”), this is a film with plenty of heart. It’s a beautiful story of two different people and the project that brings them together hundreds of miles from home. The story begins with a woman named Harriet (Emily Blunt) inquiring with the science bureau as to the possibility of bringing salmon to the deserts of Yemen. Harriet represents Sheikh Muhammed (Amr Waked), who is very wealthy, very powerful, and a sport fishing enthusiast. Writing on behalf of the fisheries department, Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGreggor), dismisses the idea as fanciful and impossible. But when the Prime Minister’s press secretary (Kristen Scott Thomas) is looking for a feel-good story from the Middle East, she latches on to the idea of the fish. Soon, with the full weight of the government behind the project, Jones finds himself trying to work out the logistics for an idea that seems impossible. Both Jones and Harriet have personal issues as well. Harriet has been seeing a British Special Forces officer who goes missing in action, while Jones is trapped in a loveless marriage that has him searching for meaning. Both end up channeling their frustration into the project, as they overcome a series of obstacles to find fish, bring them to the Middle East, and create an environment where they can thrive. Along the way, the project of bringing fish to the Yemen is just what both need to help ease their troubles, and Harriet and Jones from an unlikely partnership that leads to something more than a forced business arrangement. Again, the idea behind this film wouldn’t jump right off the page. The idea of watching a couple British people help bring sports fishing to the Middle Eastern desert seems like a tough sell on paper. But that’s part of the genius of the way Hallstrom puts this film together. By the end of the film, you’re not only rooting for Jones and Harriet to solidify their personal connection, you’re pretty invested in the idea of bringing sports fishing to the Yemen as well. It’s a story that doesn’t get too bogged down in science, logistics, or politics. It’s a story that’s focused on people coming together to achieve the impossible and bring life to a previously barren area. There is something inspiring and engrossing about that journey. McGreggor and Blunt are excellent in the lead roles. Both go through a range of emotions and scenes, creating likeable characters. You can’t help but root for these people as they overcome struggles to be part of this project. And Waked brings a great presence to the role of Sheikh Muhammed too. He creates a warm, likeable character that helps add to the dimensions of the film. Beaufoy does a nice job with the script, infusing comedy and drama along the way. And Hallstrom (“Cider House Rules,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”) is the perfect director for this type of project. “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” seems like a crazy idea. It’s a small, independent film that’s not playing in a lot of theaters. It didn’t get a splashy marketing campaign, but it’s got a lot of heart. It’s worth seeking out and seeing if you get a chance.
Rating: PG-13 for some violence and sexual content, and brief language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.