I found this movie on Netflix and came to it without any expectations, having read no reviews beforehand. I wondered what Tom Hanks was up to now. Unlike many viewers, I don't see why every TH movie has to be a "hit". I found the Saudi Arabian locale and characters fascinating, wondering how they manage to build such opulent structures in a desert. To continue the holographic metaphor, the projected new-city-in-the-desert was more of a mirage than a reality.I understand why critics at Rotten Tomatoes give it a 73% fresh rating: it is different and critics like that. Only 55% of the audience at RT enjoyed it because they were expecting something different, and audiences don't like that. As other reviewers have mentioned, the plot meanders and goes in odd directions. But that is part of the quirky attraction for me, at least. While the story ends a bit abruptly (too nicely/neatly?), Tom Hank's character is a sympathetic one that the audience willingly roots for.

I just don't know what it is but something really made "A Hologram for the King" a very boring and even unwatchable movie, what I would never assume when you have Tom Hanks as the protagonist. The story they were about to tell, about the injustice in countries like Saudi Arabia is an interesting point, but the movie ended up having completely no clear structure, excitement or investing plot. There was seriously nothing compelling or gripping about it. One of the worst movies in 2016 for sure: 2/10

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.

This movie comes close to hitting it out of the park. Alan Clay is a Willy Loman figure. He outsourced production of Schwinn, an American icon, to China and the company went under when the Chinese undercut Schwinn. Clay bitterly describes the result "all the bikes are the same, just different labels for different companies" and the Chinese of course can sell theirs for a fraction of what Schwinn does.Now he finds himself on a "do or die" mission for his current company. His job is to sell a holographic communications package to the Royal Family in Saudi Arabia.He has to negotiate a number of obstacles, both real and imaginary, to achieve his goal. There is a literal "monkey on his back" that represents his state in life. Once he gets rid of that the life he imagined comes back...or does it? Karma both gives and takes.Tighter editing would have made this a much better picture. Perhaps some voice-over dialogue from Clay to emphasize the Willy Loman in him. Flashbacks to the good ol' days when he was the king (of sales) himself.