Yesterday

— Sometimes a great premise is almost enough to carry a film and this is one of those times. The idea is just so clever and so intriguing that you know you’ll enjoy things, particularly if you’re a Beatles fan—and if you aren’t, what’s wrong with you? It takes a little too long to establish the basis of the story, probably because everyone in the theater already knew what was going on from having seen the previews. A struggling musician, after colliding with a bus during a world-wide blackout, discovers he’s the only person in the world with any memory of the Beatles or their amazing songs. He begins to recreate them, recording them as his own. When you’re my age and there are 16 of the most famous Beatles’ songs in a film, it’s hard not to tap your feet and sing along in your head. More interestingly if you’re a few generations younger, I think you might be doing the same thing. These are tunes that have wormed their way into the nation’s core and are part of our subconscious, shared memory. There’s also a love story woven throughout the film that manages to be touching by the end but, honestly, I’m not sure how since I didn’t sense much chemistry through most of the film. I enjoyed “Yesterday” although I wouldn’t call it “great,” just mostly fun and Kate McKinnon manages to infuse quite a bit of that fun in the film.

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[2019. 116 min. Directed by Danny Boyle. Starring Himesh Patel, Loily James, Joel Fry, Kate McKinnon, and Ed Sheeran.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/yesterday-2019