‘Yesterday’ Review | With great power comes great opportunity

One solar flare after, the world lit up wrong. There are no cigarettes. No Harry Potter. No Beatles.

One who remembers, aspiring singer Jack (Himesh Patel), would rather capitalize on it. This is not a case of whodunit. To him, with great power…er playlist comes great opportunity. Jack embraced whatever turned the universe upside down for fame and to possibly resuscitate his songwriting career.

If you came for a complex storyline ala Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival or you’re looking for an emotional biopic like what Rocketman did for Elton John or Bohemian Rhapsody for Freddie Mercury, then this might not be the movie for you. 

Or perhaps it is. If you just want to sing along with the great songs of the Fab Four and watch a romance to play out, you will find Yesterday endearing and fun. 

Despite the Beatles songs being more like adjunct aspects of the protagonist’s journey, there is a heartwarming scene in the third act you should not skip, a powerful moment in the movie that even bests the cringeworthy finalé.

All in all, Yesterday is a sweet romance comedy mixed with magic realism, Ed Sheeran, and the utter suspension of disbelief that Lily James is in the friendzone.

Rating: 8.5/10 

The reviewer bought his own ticket for this review. Yesterday is now showing in the Philippines.