This Movie Was Embarrassing to Watch

Rating: 1/10 (27 September 2007)

As a huge Beatles fan, I've been excited to see this movie since the trailer was released a few months ago. I was disappointed that the movie wasn't in a theater closer to me, but I wanted to see it so badly, that my boyfriend and I drove an hour and a half to a theater that was showing it.
When the movie opened up with Jude sitting on the beach singing "Girl" I turned to my boyfriend and squeezed his arm, it started off really well, and I was excited. But much to my dismay, it went insanely downhill from then on.
As the movie continued I found myself looking around the theater, wondering if everyone else found the scenes as corny and absurd as I did. For example, Every scene with Prudence was completely cringe producing, because first of all the girl can't act and second the character lacked any sort of development. I was sitting there wondering "why the hell do I care about her?" She could have stayed in the closet as far as I'm concerned. (literally and figuratively) I literally got up and left the theater when the cast began singing "Dear Prudence" to her. IT WAS JUST SO CORNY. Such flat singing, and sloppily put together story line almost completely bastardized songs i have loved my entire life.
I mean, I get it - this movie could potentially be saved by its overt cult value, and generally I am really opened minded to movies like that. What this movie lacked in that respect was awareness of its own absurdity. The drug references, the anti-war agenda, its forced but failing relevance to todays political and social issues, all proved to me that the director and the actors were taking themselves far too seriously. This movie is a joke.
Evan Rachel Woods can't sing, she has the voice of a mildly talented girl in a poorly done high school musical. She is a mediocre actress, almost muted and boring to watch.
The "Janis Joplin" and "Jimi Hendrix" sort of characters were just stupid, and too pointed, and way off topic. The movie didn't have to go through the entire 60's and try to reenact. That's too heavy of a burden, and far too vast and important of an era to be encapsulated by a campy musical.
What it comes down to, ultimately, is that the story was written around the songs instead of vice versa. It would have made all the difference in the world if the story itself was strong, and the songs only served to compliment it, subtly. Instead the songs and their supposed meanings were forced on the story line.
The ONLY instance of saving grace in this movie, was in the beginning during the "Let It Be" scene. The scene worked to show the racial and civil tension of the time, and the subtleness of the singing, and the real emotional impact was definitely effective. If only the rest of the movie could have achieved that poignancy. It didn't. I wasn't emotionally invested.
I could go on and on. I think the movie was an embarrassment to some of the greatest music ever. John Lennon and George Harrison are rolling over in their graves. Additionally, Bono sucked, he's so self important. Seriously, don't waste your time. This movie is awful.