Just not that good.

Rating: 3/10 (11 May 2008)

I'm kind of shocked to see so many positive reviews here, as I grabbed this movie last night on a whim (my eldest daughter remembered the trailer and generally Eddie Izzard is worth watching) and it was just not a very good movie.
Oh, visually it was interesting; but the story was beyond naive, the principal characters were cardboard and the soundtrack--the movie's selling point judging by the marketing--was just awful.
First off, and I hope I'm not ruining it for anyone, but it's a lesser version of "Hair".
Honestly, the same ground is covered in much the same way as in Hair, but it takes longer (*far* longer) and the characters are far less likable.
And the music! I like the Beatles just fine, but the re-imaginings of the songs can (with the exception of Bono's version of "I am the Walrus") could best be described as "Slow it down and make it somber" Seriously. A huge proportion of the songs are a single character sitting introspectively and singing slowly and breathily.
The first time it happens it's an interest take on classic Beatles tunes. The Second time? Still an interesting idea...the third? I'm seeing a pattern forming.
By the umpteenth time it happens (like when the artist kid is drawing a still life of fruit and, seeing a Strawberry, launches into "Strawberry Fields Forever" my eyes are getting tired from the rolling.
My daughter excused herself at about the halfway point to go do something else. I wish I had joined her.