Free Trip to Egypt

This film represents a feel-good small step in helping combat the Islamophobia and prejudice that many Americans unfortunately feel toward Muslims and foreigners. It's just too bad that Mounib (whose ability to fund this well-meaning project is never discussed) couldn't convince other Muslim financiers and executives to join him in providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Americans who think that all Muslims and Arabs are fundamentally opposed to the Western world. Of course, it's an even bigger shame that this documentary was even necessary -- and while it tries to stay apolitical, it's clear that President Trump's election rallies were a primary reason that Mounib felt compelled to start the project.

One downside to Free Trip to Egypt is that the group of Americans isn't more diverse: It's really three friends, a married couple, and two individuals. The story would have been even more powerful if, instead of the group of three Louisville pals, there had been three more strangers from different parts of the country. But Ellen and Terry, the older married couple, are particularly fascinating; they acknowledge that they've become xenophobes but don't want to stay that way, partially because their adult child lives in the Middle East. Jason, who never fails to evangelize in any given situation, and Jenna manage to connect with their religious Muslim host family. Brian, meanwhile, stays with a secular/activist young Egyptian woman who has an intelligent, international group of friends. By the end, everyone has predictably changed, believing in the humanity and the beauty of the people and nation of Egypt.