A struggling musician realizes he’s the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles after waking up in an alternate timeline where they never existed.
Pam says: What a wonderful surprise! This rom-com won my heart, made me sing out loud (I apologize to whomever was sitting next to me) and most importantly, made me smile all the way through. The concept is immediately engaging as Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) wakes up after being in an accident and coincidentally a world-wide blackout occurs, as he realizes he is the only one who recalls The Beatles. As a struggling song-writer, he takes advantage of this, but his conscience catches up with him as his stardom rises. There’s an indie feel to this film even with the star power of Lily James and Ed Sheeran as the story unfolds sometimes surprising you along the way. Patel has an incredible performance as the meek, insecure, and conflicted young man and James accompanied by Sheeran hit all the right notes as supporting actors. “Yesterday” is just good old-fashioned fun, reminding us what a rom-com can and should be.
Chuck says: An unexpected delight, the old-fashioned sensibility of the movie (think Frank Capra) plays surprisingly well under Danny Boyle’s deft direction while Hamesh Patel delivers a rousing, sympathetic performance. Surprises aplenty abound, especially during the film’s strong third act. Perhaps the most refreshing thing is that Boyle and company set up a premise that allows us to listen to the Beatles’ music with fresh ears, allowing us to appreciate the songs for the groundbreaking works they were.
