Yesterday is a 2019 comedy about a struggling musician who realizes he’s the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles.
At some point we all go through a Beatles phase I guess, and by that I mean there’s a time when it’s the only music we listen to, our sensibilities finally recognizing it for the genius it really is. It’s sort of magical when that happens, I suppose, and for many it’s transformative. The Beatles have long been featured in movies and television, their iconic songs embedding themselves in each new generation. So it is with director Danny Boyle‘s inventive new film Yesterday, and while it might lack the overall sense of wonder and misses some good opportunities for a little more fun, at least respects the music and its fans.
Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a pretty decent singer songwriter, playing his guitar where he can though few are listening, aside from his friend and manager, Ellie (Lily James), who truly thinks he’s got a shot. However, he finally gives up when no one show up for his latest gig. That’s when a miracle happens. A global blackout that lasts for twelve seconds occurs right when he gets hit by a bus. But that’s not all. When he wakes up, he comes to learn that everyone around the world has no knowledge of The Beatles. They never existed. This presents him with a strange but potentially life-changing opportunity – take credit for some of the greatest songs ever (not) written. This naturally puts him on path to superstardom, leading to good but also, well … not so good.
Boyle has always been an imaginative filmmaker and with Yesterday, dips back into the creative well with a fun story (written by Jack Barth and Richard Curtis) that asks a ton of cool questions you’ll being thinking of answers for yourself. Who hasn’t wished they could have been one of the most influential band members in all of human history? That’s what’s on tap here, where The Beatles and a few other notable names, including Coke, cigarettes and Oasis have slipped into the void. It’s clever and ripe with potential and admittedly there are some bits that hit the spot, such as a fun sequence where Jack tries to play Let it Be for his parents, they of course not knowing it or noticing what it is.
Boyle does take the idea to some obvious high points but puts a lot of effort also into the relationship of Jack and Ellie, which I suppose isn’t all that much of a misstep, themes of romance crucial to many Beatles tunes. However, there just isn’t all that much joy in this part of the plot, despite a couple of good performances that sort of deserve a different story. The music eventually takes a secondary role, with the great setup and Jack’s initial confusion with what’s happening losing traction as the plot begins to take on water. This leaves Yesterday becoming a more pedestrian effort than Boyle’s usual titles, though that’s maybe his intent. This is a fantasy of course but the idea is somewhat hollow in exploring the more curious corners of such a thing. There are some very fun moments here, with supporting roles from Ed Sheeran and the always cheerful Kate McKinnon flexing her reliable comedic muscle, but it’s not the joyful trip down the long and winding road it feels it should be.