A former executive who transferred an iconic American brand to China, Alan (Hanks) feels like his business days are waning when he's assigned to go to Saudi Arabia to sell a 3D holographic conferencing system to the king. But his contact there (Laith) is elusive, his driver (Black) is a wild card, and a night partying with a Danish colleague (Knudsen) leaves him in need of a doctor (Choudhury). He also calls his daughter (Fairaway) and his father (Skerritt), worried about his health and wondering why he can't seem to focus on much of anything.

Tykwer directs the film with a cheeky sense of humour that allows comical touches to emerge in both the characters and situations. But at its core, the film is fairly serious and introspective, as events unfold through Alan's perspective as a jumble of swirling memories, including flashbacks to his childhood and career. In other words, the story plays out as an odyssey of self-discovery, as the unexpected quirks of a culture clash gently prod Alan to think about his life choices.

Hanks is, of course, terrific at this kind of everyman role, playing each scene with impeccable comical timing and an underlying sense of yearning emotion. The details of his life are established without melodrama, including key relationships back home and new ones here in the desert. Black is a hilarious sidekick whose smile is infectious, Choudhury offers some unexpected flirtation, and Knudsen gives the film some earthy energy.

It often feels as if this story is bouncing lightly across the surface. Deeper thoughts are generally avoided, although their presence is felt. And there isn't a single antagonistic character. But the film is cleverly constructed to be elusive and provocative, never telling the audience what to think about the issues while sending us in directions that challenge expectations. It's a pleasure to watch. And there's something about the themes that lingers, encouraging us not to miss out on what's really happening around us.

themes, language, drugs, sexuality

3.May.16