An average movie

This movie didn't make much waves when it was released since I have always had a weak spot for Tom Tykwer's work, I was still eager to check it out. Futhermore, after 'Cloud Atlas', Tykwer was working again with Tom Hanks and I thought it was pretty neat to Hanks involving in some smaller project like this one for once. Well, eventually, to be honest, it wasn't really good, I'm afraid. Basically, the whole set-up was about an American businessman pretty much wasting his time (and ours) in Saudi Arabia looking for the King himself so he can do his sales pitch and, even though it was supposed to be really funny, I guess, it wasn't really interesting or entertaining after all. Furthermore, in the 3rd act, out of nowhere, the whole thing became somehow some kind of far-fetched romantic-comedy as the main character falls in love with pretty much the only Saudi Arabian he met through his whole trip. I think there must have been a decent story to tell hidden there somewhere but I just had a hard time to care about the damned thing. I mean, it was really interesting to see a movie dealing with Saudi Arabia, a very rich country with some improbable sophisticated cars and buildings and, yet, very conservative in many ways. But it was probably the main problem, the fact that this tale was told by a Western director with a Western point of view. Anyway, in spite of its flaws, I still think it is worth a look though, especially if you are interested in Tom Tykwer's work.

6/10