Yesterday: Review

Imagine a world where the Beatles never existed. A world without Octopus's gardens, yellow submarines and clubs for lonely hearts run by a Sargent Pepper. This is the world of Danny Boyle's Yesterday a charming, funny and enjoyable rom-com with a premise that had me hooked from the get go.

I love the Beatles. To be honest it's hard to find people that don't enjoy at least one of their tunes and the amount of artists they've inspired over the years is second to none. The Beatles were one of the first really big music groups and by big I mean BIG. It wasn't called Beatlemania for nothing and it's a testament to their fame how little about the Beatles needs to be explained in this film. Jack says he needs to go to Liverpool for inspiration, everybody knows why no explanation needed. You see an elderly John Lennon living out his live in a cottage by the sea and you understand why it's emotional. This film isn't a re-telling of the Beatles story because it doesn't have to be because the audience already knows.

The film is about ex-teacher Jack (Himesh Patel) who has dreams of being a singer songwriter just like his heroes. Supported by lifelong friend Ellie (Lily James) who has become his manager as he busks on desolate streets and barren pubs. One night however a strange phenomenon happens. All the lights of the world turn off and after clashing with a bus in the dark, Jack wakes up to find himself in a hospital with smashed teeth and for some reason nobody else remembers the Beatles anymore.

After a few short scenes of moral dilemma Jack decides to use this to his advantage, playing off that the Beatles songs are actually his own.

There is a lot to like about this feel-good flick. Specifically the performance of its leading man Himesh Patel, who plays the part with fantastic comedic timing and is a believable character amongst the fantastical and unique concept. Kate Mckinnon was also enjoyably evil as his manager in her over the top SNL style which while overplayed still managed to get a laugh from me.

However this film didn't hit all the right notes for me. While I adore Lily James I felt annoyed at how her character was portrayed here and I was constantly waiting for her to play a more proactive part in the story. There is a scene when Ellie confesses her love to Jack and tells her how long she's been waiting for him to fall in love with her... All the while I'm just wondering why ten years ago she didn't just ask him herself? While the romance between them is sweet and romantic I felt she should have played a bigger role in the narrative itself.

Also the guy who Ellie is dating at the end is either really stupid, emotionally stunted or a really badly written character. After hearing Jack has feelings for Ellie he just kind of... lets her go... and he's fine with that... It's like "You said you loved me when you didn't and I'm always going to be second best but I'm cool with that bro, the plot calls for a totally zen like approach to this situation" which in real life just wouldn't happen! I mean HAVE YOU SEEN LILY JAMES? YOU'D BE A BIT UPSET AT LEAST!

Still, with that being said I loved the ending and found this film brilliantly refreshing amongst the horde of prequels and remakes we're getting at the moment. Yesterday is a little gem amongst a large crowd of unoriginality and for that it's worth a watch.

7/10