Yesterday

Rating: 7/10 (6 July 2019)

I saw the trailer for this film, it looked and sounded like a great idea for a concept, and it had all the right ingredients for something that should be good, written by Richard Curtis (Blackadder, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, About Time), directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, The Beach, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours). Basically, Jack Malik (EastEnders' Himesh Patel) is a struggling singer-songwriter from Lowestoft. His manager and childhood friend Ellie Appleton (Lily James) encourages him not to give up on his dreams. One night, the whole world is momentarily hit with a massive blackout, Jack is hit by a bus whilst on his bike, he recovers in hospital. The following day his friends give him a brand-new guitar, he says for his first time it deserves a great song, he plays and sings "Yesterday" by The Beatles, but he is astonished that his friends have never heard it before. Jack is astonished to discover, after searching the internet, that The Beatles and their music no longer exists. Later, he also discovers that in this world, the band Oasis, the soft drink Coca-Cola, the entire concept of cigarettes, and Harry Potter never existed either. After his initial bemusement, being the only person in the world that remembers the "Fab Four", he questions his morals and wonders if he could claim all their songs as his own. Sure enough, he performs the songs at gigs, claiming he wrote them, and records a demo with local music producer Gavin (Alexander Arnold). Following a performance on local television, Jack is invited by pop star Ed Sheeran (as himself) to play as his opening act in Moscow. Ellie declines to join him, saying she has responsibilities as a schoolteacher, so Jack's roadie friend Rocky (Joel Fry) travels with him instead. After the gig, Jack is signed by Sheeran's agent, Debra Hammer (Kate McKinnon), and rises to global fame performing all songs he has recalled by The Beatles. At a party in Jack's home, Ellie confesses that she has always been in love with him. Hoping to trigger more memories of Beatles songs, Jack travels back to the UK to their hometown of Liverpool, visiting landmarks such as Strawberry Field, Penny Lane, and the grave of Eleanor Rigby. Jack gets drunk, spends the evening with Ellie and they kiss, but she tells him she does not want a one-night stand. The next morning, Jack and Rocky pursue Ellie to Liverpool train station, but Ellie reminds Jack he has to choose between her and his career. Jack is heartbroken and almost forced into returning to Los Angeles. The record label prepares to launch Jack's debut album, but they reject his suggestions for titles, taken from Beatles records (such as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and The White Album), they name the album One Man Only, pushing his talent. Jack persuades his label to launch the album with a performance in Gorleston. Backstage, Jack is approached by two stranger, Liverpudlian Liz (Sarah Lancashire) and Russian Leo (Justin Edwards), they remember The Beatles, which is a huge relief to Jack. They tell him they know he plagiarised the songs; but they thank him, they feared the music of The Beatles had gone forever. They give him the address of John Lennon (Robert Carlyle), who has lived into old age, he gives Jack the advice to chase the one he loves and to always tell the truth. Ed Sheeran arranges for Jack to perform at Wembley Stadium. Jack confesses to the crowd that he did not write the songs, they were created by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, and George Harrison, and he has Rocky upload the songs free to the internet, sabotaging the record release. He also finally tells Ellie that he loves her, they later marry and have a family together, and Jack becomes a music teacher. Also starring Sophia Di Martino as Carol, Meera Syal as Sheila Malik, Sanjeev Bhaskar as Jed Malik, and James Corden as himself. Featuring many great Beatles songs, including "Yesterday", "Let It Be", "Here Comes the Sun", "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "Yellow Submarine", and "Hey Jude" (which plays in full in the end credits) (the movie version is titled "Hey Dude"). Malik has changed significantly since being geeky Tamwar Masood in EastEnders, he gives a terrific performance as the struggling musician who becomes world famous when the whole world has forgotten about the most influential band of all time, James is likeable as his supportive friend and one true love who he is losing in the process, and Sheeran playing himself is splendidly funny and self-deprecating. It is a very clever concept, and you absolutely go with it, it is a good opportunity to celebrate great music, and really makes you realise that the world would be completely different without something, it is funny with a witty script, and it is a sweet love story, a really likeable jukebox musical romantic comedy. Very good!