Salmon Fishing In The Yemen (2011)

3/5

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen is a terrifically predictable romance about an unlikely couple (McGregor, Blunt) forced together by circumstance (Waked, Scott Thomas) and then torn apart by equally implausible circumstance (Mison). It is filled with inspiring music that swells up during talk about fishing and ominous overtones that creep up during moments of danger. It is not the most sophisticated film as far as subtlety is concerned, but its traditional storytelling structure is better than some indie romances I've seen in the past. The chemistry between the two leads is unexpectedly good, and that more than makes up for the mediocre rest. As for the plot, everything ties up a little too neatly and happily at the end to be believable. But it's a mindless movie with sufficient heart and humor to appeal to the masses. It's a movie that doesn't ask you to think too hard about it once the credits roll and you shuffle out of the theater. It is harmless Sunday morning fare and it serves its purpose well.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441952/

Dear John (2010)

2/5

Dear John is a bad movie. It is based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, and I presume that novel is bad as well, because the bad part about this movie is its story. The cinematography was fine, the acting was fine, but the story sucked. The story starts with an army sergeant (Tatum) during a 2-week leave back home with his dad (Jenkins) in Charleston. On the beach, he meets a girl who also went back home to Charleston for spring break from college (Seyfried). They fall madly in love and, at the conclusion of the 2 weeks, he of course has to go back to the army and she of course has to go back to school. They promise that they will write each other as often as is humanly possible and things go just peachily at first. But where would the romance be without some trials and tribulations along the way that they must overcome? Do they overcome it? Ah, I guess you'll have to see it to find out what happens next.

But I don't think anyone should see this movie, so I'll just tell you what happens next: she sends him a Dear John letter and tells him she's engaged to someone else. Oh no! The problem with this movie is that it sets itself up as a movie with the potential to tug at your heartstrings and ultimately satisfy your desire for their love to be fulfilled. Instead it is painful obstacle after obstacle until they finally smack into a brick wall and give up. It is not a story of true love triumphing in the face of uncontrollable external factors; it is the story of affection and need failing in the face of inconvenience. And don't talk to me about the ending. The ending is not a redemption; it is sap and sentimentality without any resonance of truth. It is the author writing a convenient end to an inconvenient setup. It is illogical, frustrating, and out of context. Don't watch this movie. You will either be disappointed or angry, and neither is what you want to feel after emerging from the theater.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0989757/