Yesterday is the perfect summer fling: lighthearted, enjoyable, awkward, and you let it go just as easily as it comes. While not ground breaking, Yesterday is a cute summer romcom.
The film follows failed musician Jack Malik (played by Himesh Patel). When Jack wakes up after being hit by a bus during a world wide blackout, he discovers that no one knows of The Beatles. While he initially assumes his friends are pranking him, he does what every 21st centurier would do – Google It. Google confirms that The Beatles are just beetles. While it may seem enough that The Beatles are the only thing gone, they’re not. Other minor things are suddenly missing in the film allowing a few more jokes down the line.
Jack is a relatable character. When he begins to play The Beatles songs and doesn’t receive instant attention he worries that his career problems all along may have been himself. Enter Ed Sheeran who, interestingly enough, doesn’t even make it to the first page of credits while he stole my attention immediately. On tour with awkward Ed Sheeran, Malik’s life becomes a whole lot more interesting.
The film follows Jack as he adapts to a new life while harboring the secret of being a fraud. Jack trying to remember every lyric to every Beatles song is like Karaoke at The Little Club on Monday night. You may think you know all the words, but you really don’t. Thankfully for Jack, no one has any idea what the real words are supposed to be.
Kate McKinnon as Jack’s manager is non stop laughter. Her ability to deliver lines straight, without any sugarcoating, has audience member’s clapping their hand over their mouth in disbelief. I was nervous for the ending; too many times a film reverts back to the “and then he wakes up from a dream in a hospital.” Moviegoer Greg says it best, “it had the opportunity to fall into these cliches and I am so glad it didn’t. It makes it much more interesting that way.”
While Beatles fans may enjoy the film, it has very little to do with the band. All will feel welcome and in sync to the plot without any advanced knowledge.
Movie times: click here
Genre: Music, Fantasy, Comedy
Run Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes
Director: Danny Boyle
Actors: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Sophia Di Martino
Rating: PG-13 for suggestive content and language
