Yesterday — thoughts and reviews and stuff

Ten Second Review: This feel good film mostly serves to highlight the talents of John, Paul, George and Ringo as well as Himesh Patel.

Sometimes you hear the concept for a film and you’re immediately sold. A worldwide wide blackout where the only result is that The Beatles never existed; I’m there. There’s a really strong simple idea at its core and the film’s success mainly comes from sticking to that simplicity.

Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a down in his luck musician who has just played his last gig. On his way home he gets hit by a bus in the midst of a 13 second worldwide blackout and wakes up two teeth lighter but largely unchanged. It’s only as he’s recovering that he realises something other than his teeth is missing; no one seems to know who the Beatles were. He sets about trying to remember as many of the songs as possible in the hopes of pulling off the greatest con in history, but can he pass off the genius of the Fab Four as his own while staying true to himself.

There is something rather charming about this film. It might be Himesh Patel’s great performance, it might be Danny Boyle’s signature use of cinematography or it might be a mostly amusing script from Richard Curtis. It’s probably not Lily James playing Lily James for the umpteenth time.

What the film really is is a love letter to The Beatles. It’s not just there to remind you how many hits they had (I’m not sure people need reminding) but highlights their influence on other music and wider culture. It also picks up the fact that the Beatles made music that is a little more than era defining. It’s full of themes that remain just as engaging now, if occasionally a little dated.

The film itself is quite well made, if feeling a little cheap at times. I’m not quite sure how best to describe it but it had this quality that made it feel a little low budget. Maybe this is only noticeable because of the giant production films I’ve been watching recently, but it did feel noticeable.

I would also say that the film made a questionable choice or two. I think Ed Sheeran might have been ever so slightly over played in the film’s story. He was funny, and the character is nice but just felt ever so slightly over-present. The same good be said for Kate McKinnon in the role of Jack’s manager. Her campy portrayal of the character really stood out like a sore thumb throughout the film and, as much as I love her, she really didn’t belong in this film. I get that they were going for the eccentric American producer stereotype but it was played much better by Lamorne Morris. I wish they had gone a different way with that character cause it ends up as the weakest part of the film and each time she’s one, you’re just waiting for her to stop.

Overall I think the film makes for a great feel good watch. I’m not it gains that much from the big screen so if you’re on the fence then it might be worth waiting to watch it at home, if you like the idea and the music then I’d say give this one a go. If it’s a rainy summers day, this one is sure to lift some spirits.