A recent uptick in nostalgia for the music of yesteryear can
probably be traced to two potential sources. One: Hollywood had one big success
and immediately saw the potential in more. Two: Living in a world of wonderful
music that reminds everyone of a different time may be the simplest form of
escapism in movies today. Either way, Yesterday capitalizes on that
nostalgia, but in a surprisingly different manner.
Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a struggling singer-songwriter
in an English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the
fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie (Lily James).
After a freak bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up
to discover that The Beatles have never existed. Performing songs by the
greatest band in history to a world that has never heard them, Jack becomes an
overnight sensation with a little help from his agent (Kate McKinnon).
It’s nearly impossible to feature music from The Beatles and
not have the film be at least marginally enjoyable. The classic quartet changed
music so many years ago, so much so that it has arguably still had an effect to
this day. That’s why it’s somewhat disappointing that Yesterday is not
at all interested in exploring what losing the music of John, Paul, George and
Ringo would do the world of pop culture outside of a few humorous google
searches.
This is ultimately where the film’s biggest fault lies. Its premise
is immensely interesting, but it becomes a gimmick more than anything else, a
system for a standard rise to stardom story that audiences have seen a million
times over. Yesterday doesn’t get overly complex, which makes a late
game ethical conundrum and an awkward surprise all the more contrived and
tacked on.

Director Danny Boyle and writer Richard Curtis have made quite
a few solid to great films in their careers. The combination of Boyle’s style
with Curtis knack for romantic comedies produces a film that does enough to
earn the title of “feel good” that it so desperately craves.
Yesterday won’t likely make anyone’s best of the year
list, it lacks a unique take on the story beats to be called great (or even
good really). The two leads are solid enough and carry a lot of the film’s
weight in light of its other shortcomings. If you love the music of The Beatles,
you’ll likely enjoy the numerous songs that get featured throughout the two
hour runtime, even if some are very brief samples, and enjoy the ride for what
it is: a feel good, breezy film.
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