Innovative, timely and goofy

Rating: 8/10 (11 February 2005)

It is not enough to say that this film's subject matter had all the makings of a complete disaster (try to imagine a film about a "day in the life" of Elvis or Eminem) and therefore Lester should be credited for this achievement. One has but to see a few seconds of the screaming orgies of adulation that were Beatles "concerts" to understand the potential for hagiography and chaos.
Even putting that aside, had this film been about a bunch of unknowns it would still be festive and entertaining and even insightful with masterful pacing and minimum dialog. Lester manages to establish four distinct characters (Ringo as goofy, John as a wise guy almost the Bugs Bunny of the movie, Paul as sweet and George as hard and blank) while using the thinnest of plots to explore the circus that was this group's life.
The Beatles were gods in 1964 (not just another pop group as someone, obviously too young to know stated in another review, sorry to play the age card) and Lester, with their enthusiastic help, cut through the crap and managed to show four young human beings riding waves insanity and to reflect that insanity in a joyful and creative mÃ©lange of film.