Yesterday - Movie Review



Plot: A struggling musician realizes he's the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles after waking up in an alternate timeline where they never existed.
Cast: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Kate McKinnon, Ed Sheeran
Director: Danny Boyle
Certificate: 12A (infrequent strong language, drug references, moderate sex references)
Runtime: 116 minutes
Release Date: Friday 28th June 2019
We appear to be living in the age of British rock artists inspired movies. In the past six months, both Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman have taken the world of cinema by storm. Now, with Danny Boyle and Richard Curtis at the helm, it's time for The Beatles' turn. Except, instead of detailing their rise to fame, or hardly any Liverpudlian antics for that matter, Yesterday poses the question of what if The Beatles never existed - a premise that is far more terrifying than most horror films.
Aside from The Beatles music being placed on shuffle for the entire film, the most noticeable aspect of Yesterday, is that it's a Richard Curtis script through and through. His trademark British whimsy is plastered across every frame and line of dialogue. Characters audibly explain that they want "a cup of tea" or "a pint of beer", whilst sitting in a pub garden. Our main protagonist never realises the love right in front of him, and continuously makes a tit of himself. Curtis is playing his greatest hits, to the backdrop of The Beatles' own hits. Unfortunately, this serves as both a blessing and a curse for the film. Its energy is more than enough to drive the film along, but with a premise rich with potential, Curtis' screenplay can't help but feel incredibly basic. The non-existence of John, Paul, George and Ringo is frequently played for laughs (such as, what now doesn't exist without The Beatles), but quickly becomes a plot device to help tell a formulaic rags to riches story. The arcs for our characters are the epitome of generic. Jack Malik (Patel) is a down on his luck musician who, after being hit by a bus, wakes up to find the entire world has forgotten about The Beatles. Lily James plays his bestie/manager, who has been desperately in love with Jack for years. Kate McKinnon hams up the shady American agent, that will undoubtedly cause Jack to question fame vs family. It's an easy watch, but sadly nothing rewarding.


FACT: The main concert scene was filmed on the beach of the Norfolk Town of Gorleston, part of the Great Yarmouth Borough. Local residents were first to be chosen as the crowd extras filmed for the scenes.
Thankfully, putting the rudimentary plot to one side, Yesterday does have a lot to enjoy. Firstly, Danny Boyle's direction is gleefully frenetic and joyous (Trainspotting this is not), and highlights the best of Britain, without immediately resorting to filming iconic landmarks over and over again. During the musical numbers, Boyle shines when he strips everything back, and keeps it to Patel strumming away at his guitar. Speaking of Patel, this is a fantastic debut for the EastEnders alum. He plays the typical shy and awkward everyman, that we see in numerous Curtis films, with heaps of endearment. It also helps that he's a natural when it comes to covering the works of one of the greatest bands of all time. Lily James continues to be a breath of glorious fresh air in every project she stars in. Her chemistry with Patel is sweet, and as the film progresses and their relationship edges closer to romance, you do feel an overwhelming urge to scream at the screen, "JUST KISS HER, JACK!!". Comedy can be found, primarily, in the form of Joel Fry as Jack's clutz of a roadie. Yesterday also features Ed Sheeran, in a fairly extensive role that goes beyond a cameo. It's safe to say that, whilst his performance isn't as bad as his shoe-horned appearance in Game of Thrones, he's a far better singer than he is an actor. As with all Richard Curtis films, it does run on for ten minutes too long, and it's eventual conclusion, whilst charming, suffers from a multitude of clichés. There is also one MAJOR reveal in the third act that Beatles fans will either love or hate. Personally, I didn't mind it but I can imagine it not sitting well with some.
All in all, Yesterday is fine. It's a completely inoffensive, enjoyable celebration of The Beatles, with a couple of great lead performances and energetic direction. Unfortunately, the premise never reaches its full potential, and rather than explore this new world further, Curtis chose to take the safe and easy route.
Luke's Verdict: 6.5/10

What did you think of YESTERDAY? Which music artist/group deserve their own biopic/inspired film? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

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