Yesterday (2019)

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.

Jess’ Review

We follow musician, Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) in his ascent to fame from piggybacking off Beatles songs that have somehow been willed into non-existence by a freak power-outage. This premise, specific as it is, was what originally drew me in. With promise of charm, quirkiness and a storyline that steers away from the Hollywood norm, Yesterday regrettably falls just short of the mark. The cinematography is strong and sweeping, though perhaps a little too polished and glossy at times. The leads are also decent, with love-interest, Ellie (Lily James) being the stand-out for me. Though the same cannot be said for Ed Sheeran. Perhaps it’s just me harbouring some deep-seated, unaddressed disdain for him, but I thought he was awkward. A mere gimmick here. Regardless, his screen-time is limited and for the most part, not an issue. The story moves at a good pace and remains engaging, throwing in a few surprises along the way. It’s feel-good and a little cheesy at times, but it works. Though unfortunately I cannot help but feel that Boyle and his team are trying a bit too hard. Some scenes feel forced, and the romance subplot takes precedence when the music fades. Which is a shame, as it’s this supernatural element that is the real draw. I don’t want to watch just another rom-com (as I’m sure most of our readers are aware by now...) The real highlight of Yesterday is of course the music. I couldn’t help but sing (poorly) along to these classics, especially admiring Patel’s acoustic covers and the purity to his voice. Some were less pleasing, but these came later and I actually saw them as a reflection of adhering to trends within the music industry. Pleasing the audience and losing the soul of these pieces for the sake of fame. Now, Yesterday really doesn’t hold back in its critique of fame and popstars. It’s thought-provoking as it touches on ideas of failure if you’re not ‘making it big’, plagiarism and what is truly important when it comes to songwriting. It’s interesting, and worth further discussion. All in all, Yesterday had a lot going for it. It had an original concept, a perfect soundtrack and made enough of a statement about the music industry to offer the audience something to reflect on. And yet, it wasn’t that good. It fell back into the romance genre like a safety net. Lazy. The tone seemed off and awkward, nearly cringey at times! And removing The Beatles completely from this would send it’s ratings plummeting. It tried hard to be something great, but Yesterday simply just ended up trying too hard and bailing at the last hurdle.

6/10

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Sam’s Review

For a refreshing change, this was a romcom that I was genuinely intrigued by. Heavily influenced by my Liverpudlian Dad, the Beatles were a mainstay in my home since I was a child. The opportunity to hear their music so deeply ingrained in a film was exciting. Yet, the disappointing truth about Yesterday is, it’s little more that an obvious romcom propped up by the Beatles catalogue.

Hearing Jack, played by Himesh Patel, perform modern takes on such classics was stirring. Not just making me reminisce on my childhood, but also reminding me of the sheer power of The Beatles. Eleanor Rigby has been playing on a loop all day.

It’s alleged that there are only seven story types, and that every story told falls into one of the seven categories. Perhaps this explains why the vast majority of films are predictable. Yet it feels like a poor excuse. Yesterday is another disappointment in the originality department. It’s concept, a world without The Beatles, has such potential. Unfortunately, this film seems desperate to be typical. It’s fun, and charming, but you’re never surprised. Though the comedic take on the music industry is decent. A solid reflection of the fake pageantry and greed.

Stylistically, Yesterday tries so hard to be authentic that it borders on inauthentic. Certain shots, specifically earlier on, seem to be attempting to reveal a ‘realness’, but instead come off as bland. On the flip side, the gigs were well shot, capturing the energy.

For the most part, the cast are likable. And I applaud Patel for performing his own vocals. Very impressive. Ed Sheeran’s casting was interesting. While his acting is decent, he is distracting. Not to me, but to the plot. They seem so enamoured by his presence that his sudden introduction is wasted joking about him simply being there. That said, his role settles nicely into the story. And, good on him, as he’s willing to laugh at himself.

Is it a good film? Not really. Sure, it’s charming. The Beatles help with that, but Patel’s Jack is also a guy you can’t help but root for. It’s predictable, as are most films. Though that’s not a good enough excuse, and I feel as if the film squanders it’s concept. It’s average at best. I don’t believe in Yesterday, but I do believe in The Beatles. Long live the Fab Four.

6/10