Yesterday (2019 Film) Review

Does Danny Boyle deliver on a brilliant premise for his latest film, "Yesterday?"

Struggling singer-songwriter Jack Malik gets into an accident during a worldwide blackout. He wakes up the next morning, finding the world exactly the same, with one exception: The Beatles never existed.

Himesh Patel stars as Jack Malick, the film's main character. Lilly James plays Jack's longtime friend, Ellie. Kate McKinnon plays his agent, Debra Hammer, and real-life singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran makes an appearance as himself.

Danny Boyle directed "Yesterday" and produced it with Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Bernie Bellew, Matthew James Wilkinson, and Richard Curtis. Curtis wrote the film's screenplay. Universal Pictures distributed "Yesterday."

Overall Thoughts

It’s a testament to the strength of original storytelling when one filmmaker is able to come up with a premise so good, that people will go see it based on that alone. That was exactly the case for me when I watched the trailer for "Yesterday" and found a story that intrigued me and made me want to see it. While "Yesterday" is a great feel-good comedy, it doesn’t quite reach its full potential.

Yes, while writer Richard Curtis and director Danny Boyle are conceptually flawless with "Yesterday," as it goes into its second and third acts, the film struggles to do right by its original premise. It runs into familiar plot points and characterizations that threaten to make "Yesterday" your run-of-the-mill musical flick. Curtis and Boyle keep the familiarities to a minimum, but they still made certain parts feel tired and stale. Curtis’s dialogue and comedic writing is outstanding throughout, but in an effort to explore this alternate world, he raises questions that are never answered, and they’re not the kind you’d want to leave open-ended. I doubt that Curtis intended to leave them unanswered, yet that made the situation more confusing. If that’s the case, why ask the questions to begin with? Thankfully, the problems with "Yesterday" don’t undermine the great things it has to offer.

In his feature film debut, Himesh Patel hits the ground running as Jack Malik. You believe him as this struggling musician, who can’t work it out, no matter how passionate he is about music. Patel captured genuine sincerity remarkably well for a feature debut. The more I got to know the character, the more I related to him. I understood the character’s passion for music, and I was invested in his journey throughout the film as he learns what it truly means live a successful life. Patel proved himself to be a talented singer as his performances of The Beatles’ songs were executed so well, that I felt as if I was listening to the original versions. Malik’s romance with Ellie Appleton, played by Lily James, was sappy – this is a film written by Richard Curtis, after all. However, the important distinction to make is that it’s the kind that didn’t come across as annoying or superfluous. Instead, there was palpable chemistry between the actors and they bought into the relationship their characters shared, benefiting the story altogether.

The comedy in "Yesterday" is another one of its strengths. Jack’s reaction to The Beatles’ disappearance was pure gold and had me laughing hysterically. This laughter was later continued when it’s gradually revealed throughout the film that The Beatles is not the only thing missing from the world. I dare not reveal what is also missing, but let’s just say that you’re in for a surprise. Ed Sheeran makes an appearance as himself and the film pokes fun at his musical style, which is made funnier when the songwriter joins in on the joke. The only bit of the comedy that didn’t work was Kate McKinnon’s manager character. Her attempts at humor fell flat, coming across as irritating rather than witty. She either needed to improve her jokes, or play the role completely serious, which also could’ve led to more jokes.

In all, "Yesterday" may not be a straight home run, but it is worth seeing. The film is a love letter to The Beatles and highlights how and why the band’s music made an impact that has lasted for so long. Longtime fans of the band will enjoy the celebration, while potential new fans will be encouraged to check out their music immediately after leaving the cinema.

Rating: ★★★

Though it runs into familiar story points and has trouble balancing its pacing, "Yesterday" celebrates The Beatles in a jovial romantic comedy that will have you singing along with its music.

While I recommend seeing "Yesterday," you don't have to see it in theaters. It's not quite a must-see, especially because there are other films currently playing. You could wait to see it when it becomes available to rent or buy. However, if you're looking for something to see at the cinemas, this is a great choice.

Conclusion

This has been my review of "Yesterday." I hope you enjoyed this review. Have you seen the film? If you have, tell me what you thought in the comments below. In addition, feel free to recommend a film for me to review next. I'll be seeing "Spider-Man: Far From Home" tomorrow, so expect a review for that film coming within a week. Thanks for reading, I'm Dallin, your resident film fanatic, and I'll return soon with another editorial.