Beatles Nostalgia Comes Alive in Yesterday

 

The Beatles are hand down one of the most iconic rock groups in the music industry alongside The Rolling Stones, The Who, Queen, Kiss and numerous others.  But, what kind of planet would it be if we woke up one day to discover the songs through a completely different lens having no idea that any of this music had been recorded by the aforementioned artists?

That’s exactly what happens to washed up musician Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) when he  finds himself playing to Trump size crowds at fairs and losing confidence by the second.  Only his girlfriend/manager Ellie (Lily James) has a enough faith for both of them.  However, after a getting hit by a bus during a global blackout, Jack begins to experience his own personal Twilight Zone episode where no one knows The Beatles, their songs or their lyrics.  Jack takes ownership of resulting in him becoming a global superstar, but not without personal and professional consequences.

Lily James and Himesh Patel are so cute together and Patel’s musical talents were enjoyable.  2019 seems to be the year for 60’s, 70’s and 80’s nostalgia with Rocketman in theaters, Bohemian Rhapsody getting Oscar love and the impending Blinded By The Light centering on music from ‘The Boss’  – Bruce Springsteen.

Lily James and Himesh Patel are so cute together and Patel’s musical talents were enjoyable making Yesterday a love story with The Beatles catalog as a backdrop and easily one of the feel good films of 2019.  It’s light, fluffy, fun and will make you nostalgic for a little trip down memory lane with Ringo, Paul, George and John.  Speaking of John, Yesterday has managed to create a world in which John Lennon not only lives, but is alive at the ripe old age of 78.  I adore Kate McKinnon, but feel as though sometimes it feels if she were in a different film as the rest of the cast.  Basically, the entire cast is really understated and McKinnon is a little over-the-top (which her SNL fans have become accustomed to).

The premise for this film is interesting as it makes you realize just how much music can have an impact on our life, its past and the relationships that are fostered along the way. Imagine a world without the music of Prince, Stevie Wonder or Earth, Wind & Fire!!!  The music industry would have a whole new identity.  Let’s be glad that’s not the case.

Produced by Universal Pictures and Etalon Film, Yesterday is in theaters now.