All You Need Is Love

Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a struggling London singer-songwriter who has come to the end of his road. His devoted friend and manager Ellie Appleton (Lily James) harbors an unrequited love for him and believes in his music. But it won’t pay the bills, so he tells her he’s giving up his dream, unless some miracle occurs.

And, of course, it does – a 12-second global electrical blackout and a bicycle accident from which Jack awakens with minor injuries, but in a world that has changed in a small but significant way. The Beatles never happened. No Beatlemania, no Sergeant Pepper, no “Hey Jude” or “Yesterday.” And Jack alone seems to remember their songs.

That is the premise for Yesterday, a nostalgic tribute to the group that redefined pop music, became the first global musical phenomenon, and has been the soundtrack for a generation. Directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire), Yesterday is a clever twist on the “what if?” movie genre which includes such members as It’s a Wonderful Life and Sliding Doors. A former seminary roommate of mine once described the Beatles’ music as “sunshine,” and Boyle portrays a world without the Beatles as a world cast in a long, cold, lonely winter until Jack shares his musical gospel.

Like many “what if” stories, Yesterday is a morality play. Jack shares his special gnosis of the holy canon, which gives birth to a viral global “Jack-mania,” midwived by the amazed and humbled acolyte Ed Sheeran (playing himself). Despite several failed attempts to explain the songs’ true origin, ultimately Jack decides to “drink the poison chalice” offered by a devilish agent (richly played by Kate McKinnon) by which he sells his soul (or at least his integrity) for promises of becoming the greatest musician in the history of the world.

You can guess what follows. Yesterday is a feel-good summer movie played with breezy fun. Richard Curtis’s screenplay wastes little on backstory in order to showcase the true star of the show, the music. The songs might resonate differently with different generations, but this is more than just baby-boomer nostalgia; there are plenty of pop culture references to connect with younger generations. Boomers will instantly recognize visual homages to A Hard Day’s Night and The Ed Sullivan Show. Other icons abound, from the famous 12-string intro chord of A Hard Day’s Night to the farewell rooftop concert. And the revelation that leads to the resolution of Jack’s moral crisis is perfect – and dare not be spoiled.

Patel is a gifted singer with enough acting chops to pull off the fantasy, but he is outshone by his supporting cast. Lily James is charming and beautiful as Ellie, making Jack’s platonic responses hard to believe. But the real scene-stealers are McKinnon and Joel Fry in the Tony Randall third-wheel role as Jack’s childhood friend and stoner roadie.

There have been other films that have banked on the Beatles legend, most notably Across the Universe (2008), I Want to Hold Your Hand (1978), and the awful Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978). Yesterday surpasses all of these by not just playing the music, but capturing the heart of the Beatles’ magic – love.

Rated PG-13 (language), Yesterday, like the Beatles’ music itself, is non-stop joy. **** 4 stars/4.