I love this movie so much

Excellent, a Must See

For having a relatively low budget, the film's style and overall art direction are immensely impressive.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Take Hanks out and it would really struggle. Not that Tom is great, he's just doing his thing, like likeable character that's having a rough ride but making the best of it. Good old Tom. He plays an American businessman, a salesman who tasted success, but it's years behind him. Now he's in Saudi Arabia trying to rekindle his career, but floundering in a country that doesn't work the way he's used to. It's a battle and you root for Tom... even if it's not always clear what he's fighting for. It's all a little bit dreamlike and needlessly confusing. That said, its jumbled nature makes it oddly endearing. It twists and twists and twists, falls a bit flat, then gets up again. Does this review make any sense? No? Good! Bang on with the film.

I really liked this movie, but I understand it is culturally distasteful and Hollywood's way of mocking the Saudi Arabian culture. Your common sense tells you there would be not bikinis in a store's window display. No Saudi Arabian woman, married or otherwise,would go snorkeling topless when the risks of getting caught is death. So even though the SA doctor and Tom Hanks have chemistry and a cute romance, it's completely implausible. As far as the Embassy party scene, the illegal booze, drug use, and business professional hooking up in private, that happens behind closed doors yet it was insulting to Muslims for them to include it even though I thought the scenes were interesting. Yet, I enjoyed this movie and seeing middle aged love besides a sixty year old man hooking up with a bubbly twenty something. Hank's character struggle is realistic like many Americans are facing now trying to keep their head above water drowning in debt,dwindling job opportunities, stagnant pay, lack of job security, outsourcing, and constant of uncertainty. His character was very relatable struggling with the disappointments in his life and trying to continue to feel alive in an ever changing world. I loved the scenery of Saudi Arabia, the exotic deserts, the beautiful women even covered up in their hijabs, the beautiful white sand beaches, large spacious homes, it's like their living like kings in the desert. It was a beauty movie to watch with exotic locations and one of my favorite scenes is when he meets the SA businessman giving him a taste of the SA wealth. No it's completely accurate and devout Muslims will find this movie insulting because of the vices shown. Yet, I enjoy this fantasy of a movie mixed with reality of living in a global unpredictable world.

One of the measures I apply to a movie is whether I can ever imagine myself wanting to watch it again. If so, it rates 7 (or more depending on how good it was the first time). If I can't see myself wanting to watch a movie again, it rates variously below 7 down to sub 6 which means it's to be avoided. It's simple but it works for me.I gave this one 7.3 on that basis despite its many, many faults and its almost total incredibility. I'm sure alcohol can be obtained in Saudi Arabia despite its being illegal in just the same way prostitution is everywhere in Thailand where I live despite its also being illegal here.But, here's the thing as some other people have observed about this movie. A relationship such as that which the female doctor, Dr Harem?, allowed to develop between herself and Tom Hanks' character is quite incredible in the society of Saudi Arabia. She would never in a million years have placed either herself or Alan Clay in that potentially lethal situation. She would face the very real risk of being beheaded or stoned to death and he might have faced the same fate as as accessory in what the Saudis would no doubt see as HER crime. And please, don't let anyone tell you that women have any freedom whatever in countries such as Saudi Arabia; every aspect of their lives is controlled by their husbands and other male relatives and any transgression of that tight control could well see them stoned, and not in the nice Western way of getting stoned. Swimming topless in daylight with any man, even with her husband in Saudi Arabia. I don't bloody think so unless she had a death wish. Even being alone with a man who's not her husband would probably lead to life threatening consequences.I have to wonder what was the purpose of portraying life in Saudi as anything other than the repressive Hell that it no doubt is for people who happen to be female.Look, it's not a great movie but if you can at least try to ignore the facts of life for women in Saudi, then it's not too bad and might prompt me to watch it again some time. All the same, I can't see that happening any time soon.

Despite the poor reviews, I really enjoyed the film; my company as well. Desperate, defeated Tom Hanks struggles to win his successful life back in Saudi Arabia. And that's where the interesting part starts. Although most scenes were filmed in Morocco, it gives the viewer a good perspective of life in this ultra conservative country for expats (and for wealthy locals). The desert, the marketing, the secret parties, the camouflaged alcohol, the foreign workers.. I don't see why most people disliked it, but I would happily watch it again.