Richie Lanz (Bill Murray) is an agent for musical talent. Based in LA, he has fallen on hard times. He decides to take one act he has, who is also his PA (Zooey Deschanel) on a USO tour of Afghanistan. When she runs away after the first night with all his money and his passport he is left stranded. He becomes involved with gun running to make a quick buck and receives unlikely help from a prostitute (Kate Hudson). One day he hears the singing voice of a young Pashtun tribal woman (Leem Labany) and convinces her to go to Kabul with him to appear in the TV talent show, 'Afghan Star'.
Using the real life story of Setara Hussainzada who became a sensation and pariah in Afghanistan after appearing on the Afghan equivalent of 'America/Britain's Got Talent', 'Afghan Star' as the basis this story, it fictionalises the story to be about a creeper who Murray seems to be unable to levitate to any higher level in what seems a less loveable rogue than in some of his better films. The chemistry between him and Kate Hudson's happy hooker character is also lacking. The film has potential, but sadly that all the elements fail to work can only be laid at director Barry Levinson's feet.
Using the real life story of Setara Hussainzada who became a sensation and pariah in Afghanistan after appearing on the Afghan equivalent of 'America/Britain's Got Talent', 'Afghan Star' as the basis this story, it fictionalises the story to be about a creeper who Murray seems to be unable to levitate to any higher level in what seems a less loveable rogue than in some of his better films. The chemistry between him and Kate Hudson's happy hooker character is also lacking. The film has potential, but sadly that all the elements fail to work can only be laid at director Barry Levinson's feet.