A feel-good drama that's less of a Beatles tribute and more of a regular rom-com! [+57%]

Rating: 6/10 (21 September 2019)

Short Review: Yesterday isn't amongst Danny Boyle's best work but it's the simplicity of the screenplay and the warm performances from Himesh Patel and Lily James that keeps the proceedings breezy. That being said, the film explores little aside from what we already know about (the iconic songs by) The Beatles. The songs themselves are placed pretty neatly, yet I felt they could have been used to enhance the screenplay in a much better way. In the end, Yesterday doubles down to a typical "long-term friendship that was always a romance from the get-go" amid which the greatness of The Beatles sort of gets lost.
The dialogues are pretty corny at times too, with Kate McKinnon's character being in-your-face for no apparent reason (but to sound insultingly funny!). Ed Sheeran's presence in the film is also not utilized to the fullest and could have easily been a watered-down cameo. Yet, the lead pair and some all-time Beatles classics ensure that Yesterday remains compelling from start to finish.