Lighthearted Fun with an Underdeveloped Premise

Rating: 7/10 (22 July 2019)

Some of my favorite types of films are those that take a struggling individual and put them in a surreal fantasy-like situation unlike anything on Earth. In the case of this film, it follows a struggling musician who, after an accident, becomes the only person to remember the Beatles, and then becomes famous for taking credit on their songs. That premise alone could create one of the greatest films of all time, and with screenwriter Richard Curtis (Four Weddings & a Funeral) and director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) on board, this would seem like a sure fire hit. However, while it was by no means bad, it could have used less familiarity and more substance.
Now admittedly, the best aspect of the film has to be the main character, Jack Malick, goes through as the only person to not only know the Fab Four's work, but also debatably carrying on their legacy by singing their songs. While he does have a predictable outcome with his manager/friend Ellie whom both have feelings for each other, it does give him growth in deciding between living either a ginormous lie or a simple life of happiness and solitude. In addition, Himesh Patel does a fantastic job lending his acting talents and surprisingly good singing range as Jack, and his performance alone practically carries the film on its shoulders. Everyone else does a really good job, including Lily James as the sweet albeit concerned Ellie, Joel Fry as the juvenile slacker friend Rocky, Kate McKinnon as the hysterical and overbearing manager Deborah, and both Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal as Jack's carefree and passive parents. Even Ed Sheeran displays some notable sincerity and subtle emotions through his performance alone.
However, the one major flaw with the film is that it underdeveloped its incredible concept to focus more on Jack's stressful career and feelings for Ellie. Aside from Jack, there are two other people in the film who still remember The Beatles, and they alone should have had much more screen time. Later on, it's revealed that John Lennon didn't die and instead lived a simple obscure life with his spouse. In all honesty, the film would have been a lot more unique if it explored the idea of being in a world where the band did not exist and Jack starts over with their work, with the other two helping him discover what went wrong. Instead, the film seems to sideline that potentially grand storyline for a standard rom-com scenario. However, in spite of all that, the film still has a very charming feel to it all, much of which is captivated by the acting and live singing. The lighthearted nature of it all is definitely enough to put a lot of smiles on Beatles fans and general audiences.
In terms of notable production values, the editing can be fast paced whenever it's being timed to the songs. The vibrant usage of colors help elevate the effects in the music video-like scenes as well as the quick cuts, long pans, dutch angles, wide shots and other cinematography tricks to keep the film on a leisurely pace. Interestingly enough, often when the film plays a song, it can go up to a very loud rate, but then it all stops and even quiets down in any scene right afterwards to give some closure and let the viewers rest. It's a nice little bonus when the sound mixing compliments the musical accompaniment with striking vitality and smooth transitions. It's a nice little touch that some movies have forgotten to do nowadays. Also, it's somewhat cliched how the film depicts England as either mundane or urban, but it does create a nice contrast between the much more bright and wild Los Angeles and how overly commercialized it is, fitting with the film's theme of turning into something you're not.
It is a tad disappointing that such a premise was not explored in its execution further, but the film at least has it heart in the right place. Overall, while Yesterday does sell its concept short for a routine rom-com storyline and some questionable narrative flaws, the charming acting, lighthearted tone and splendid singing performances to make the film enjoyable enough to watch. If you're looking for a film that delves into such an oddball premise like this flick has, then you might want to find something else. However, if you're just in for some harmless and goofy fun that still pays tribute to the legacy of the Fab Four, then you'll have a pleasant experience. Maybe in the future we'll experience a movie that explores this concept further, but until then, we can all let it be.