Today’s quick review: A Hologram for the King. Alan Clay (Tom Hanks), an IT salesman going through a personal crisis, travels with his team to Saudi Arabia, where they hope to sell the King a cutting-edge teleconferencing system to use in his new city. As the demonstration faces delay after delay, Alan gets used to the Saudi way of life with the help of his driver Yousef (Alexander Black) and his doctor Zahra (Sarita Choudhury).
A Hologram for the King is a dramatic comedy about a middle-aged man on a life-changing business trip. Tom Hanks stars as Alan Clay, a good-natured salesman weighed down by a divorce, a rocky career, and a mysterious lump on his back. In navigating the quirks of an unfamiliar culture, Alan begins to find the happiness he is looking for. The movie gambles on Alan and his struggles, sacrificing plot and drama for a closer look into Alan’s mind.
A Hologram for the King is mundane to a fault. In spite of having an exotic foreign setting, a revolutionary technology, and a wealthy royal family to work with, the movie spends its time on jet lag, hangovers, and Alan’s insecurities. The story does earn points for showing a fascinating cross-section of Saudi life and for its snatches of comedy, but there’s no larger purpose to anything, and the only payoff has to do with Alan’s peace of mind.
Watch A Hologram for the King if you are interested in a low-stakes personal drama with a relatable lead and an aimless plot. A Hologram for the King will appeal to a specific subset of viewers who appreciate spending time with characters for their own sake. Those who can struggle and grow with Alan, in spite of him being ordinary, will get something out of the film. Those hoping for a meaningful plot or more compelling drama should steer well clear.
For a more insightful film about travel, attachment, and middle age, try Up in the Air. For a more dramatic movie about a Middle Eastern business deal, try Syriana.
6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 a believable character without the story to support him.