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Yesterday
****
Dir: Danny Boyle
Starring: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Kate McKinnon, Ed Sheeran,
(UK, 12A, 1hr 52mins)
A ludicrous premise powers this likeable rom-com, greatly aided by its plundering of The Beatles’ back catalogue, as two unlikely bedfellows, Trainspotting director Danny Boyle and Brit-com maestro Richard Curtis pair up in a flight of whimsy.
Jack Malik (ex-Eastender Himesh Patel) is a struggling singer/songwriter, playing for children and blissfully unaware that best friend Lily James is in love with him. One night he has a bike accident at the same time as the world undergoes a blackout. When he awakes the world is the same, with the exception that The Beatles and all their excellent hits have vanished. A few other pop culture staples have also disappeared but this is by far the greatest and the most potentially lucrative, so Jack claims the Beatles songs as his own, and soon finds himself on the road to fame and fortune with the unlikely help of a game Ed Sheeran, who thinks he should rename Hey Jude as Hey Dude.
His new-found success takes him away from his hometown and Lily James; he starts to question whether he really has made the right choices. Kate McKinnon shines as an over the top corporate meglomaniac out to exploit our hero and Patel is excellent as the conflicted crooner belting out everything from Back in the USSR to The Long and Winding Road. If nothing else the film reminds us of the brilliance of The Beatles and their songbook.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of trite stuff throughout, though the love story is saved by the performances rather than the formulaic script. The film remains whimsical and enjoyable, another picture postcard version of Britain, but tellingly with an Asian lead, packed with excellent tunes and occasional directorial flourishes. A love letter to the Fab Four.
words Keiron Self
Opens June 28