Good Movie that Could have been Great

Rating: 6/10 (17 July 2019)

Have you ever seen a movie that you thought was good, but left the theater disappointed, because you knew deep down in your heart it could have been great? That's how I felt after seeing Yesterday. I remember seeing the previews on TV and thinking "wow, what an original and interesting movie!" I hardly go to the theater anymore because I'm so sick and tired of superhero movies, sequels and remakes, so seeing an idea that seemed unique and different really grabbed my interested. I liked it, but with the right writer and director it could have been heralded like Groundhog Day.
Jack Malik works as a teacher while moonlighting as a struggling musician. He is supported by his longtime childhood friend Ellie Appleton, who, as you expect, harbors a crush on him. One day, after another underwhelming performance, Malik is hit by a bus while biking home. He wakes up, bandaged and a couple of teeth missing, in a new timeline where the Beatles don't exist. Using his knowledge of their catalog, he begins using the songs to help advance his music career to levels he never thought possible before.
This is a brilliant concept that should result in an outstanding movie. In fact, if you look up the original story/screenplay, you see that this was a somewhat dark, complex story. However, Hollywood, as usual, got in the way, with Richard Curtis rewriting the story into a predictable rom com.
The Beatles had no creative input in this film outside of approving of their music being used, and it shows. It seems in fact that a traditional rom com movie was written, and the Beatles part was slapped onto it. This alternative timeline could of and should of been further investigated. Why did it happen? How many people were involved? What else in history has changed? In fact, you could go down a very deep rabbit hole and ask even more questions. If the Beatles never existed and neither did Oasis, does Jack still like music? Maybe he could have woken up and have no interest or ability in music, which then could have changed the type of friendship he has with Ellie, who fell in love with him while watching him perform. Maybe the British Invasion never ended up happening, so bands like The Who, Led Zeppelin and Queen never became a thing. Or maybe rock never took off like it did and standards performed by Michael Buble, Josh Groban, Norah Jones and Diana Krall top the charts. There was so much that could have been explored and that could have made a much more interesting movie.
The problem is the movie, as it progresses, actually gets worse. The relationship between Jack and Ellie has no rhythm to it. It's up, down and I just don't care. And seriously, if two other people in this "new timeline" know of The Beatles, who else does? And I'm sure there are others who aren't as kind or understanding to what Jack is doing, and would blackmail/exploit him for the highest dollar possible. To top it off, there is a scene towards the end of the movie where he meets one of the Beatles that is so contrived, convoluted and almost insulting that I cringed. It alone almost tanked the movie for me.
So yes, a good, albeit predictable rom-com that is an enjoyable 90 minutes of entertainment that could have an excellent, renowned film if it was given a little more TLC.