Yesterday (2019) is a PG-13 movie directed by Danny Boyle, who also directed Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later, 127 Hours, and probably a lot of other movies with a number in the name. The movie was released June 28, 2019 and stars Himesh Patel (EastEnders) as a singer named Jack Malik who wakes up one morning, after getting hit by a bus, being seemingly the only person who remembers The Beatles and their music, using that to his advantage and becoming a world famous pop star in the process. The movie also stars Lily James (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) and Ed Sheeran, along with Saturday Night Live member, Kate McKinnon.

Overall Feelings: I thought the movie was adorable. Himesh Patel is a great singer and made the covers of The Beatles songs sound refreshed and new. Throughout the movie, even though he’s adorable, you want to just slap his character silly for some of the things he does. One of these things is turning “Hey Jude” into “Hey Dude”, per Sheeran’s request. Another is continuously avoid getting together with the girl he loves (James) despite both of them really being into each other.

One of the most heartwarming parts of the movie occurs right after Malik’s big performance. An older man and woman have followed him around on his tours, trying to get in contact with him. They finally get to talk to him after this hotel opening he plays a concert at and thanks him for remaking all of The Beatles’ music. It’s still confusing as to why only a few people remember this mega-popular, iconic band. So I have written a few questions that I wish I could get answered by the writer or director.

1.) The Beatles aren’t the only thing to have been forgotten/never existed. Among the others are the band Oasis, Coca-Cola, and even cigarettes. What other things have vanished from this world? At one point during the movie, we hear McKinnon’s character call SNL “Thursday Night Live”, showing that although it still exists, it’s on a different night. How much would life change if we actually had no more cigarettes on earth? I wouldn’t want to live in a world where Juul is the only thing people are smoking. Give me my Marlboro black menthols!

2.) Did the bus hit poor Malik so hard that he was thrust into another universe? And if it did, what kind of weird pseudo-sci-fi movie is this?! I mean they give no scientific results of any sort. In fact, Malik doesn’t even try to get back to his own universe. He marries the girl he loves (luckily, post-universe switcharoo, they still have the same feelings for each other), quits the spotlight, and lives a happy life. He even meets John Lennon!

3.) Yes, you read that right. He goes and meets John Lennon, who has lived well into his 60s, unlike our universe’s counterpart. So that begs the question... Who else lived/who died?! Is Hitler still alive and not a Nazi in this seemingly better, cigarette and Coca-Cola free world? Have we lost Elton John in John Lennon’s place? Elton John named himself after John Lennon. Is Elton John even famous? Do I exist?! I mean really made me wonder what else is different.

4.) Why was there no solution? I mean, I guess the solution was that his life wasn’t completely different and he still had all of his close relationships, so he just rolled with it. But if I were in the situation, I would want to find my way back into my own dimension! You can tell he’s freaked out at first, but Malik just doesn’t seem too concerned after awhile that he’s in the predicament he’s in. It’s so weird to me.

I honestly had more questions but I can’t remember them at the moment. The movie itself was a fun two hours of my time and I’d love to own it once it’s out on DVD. If you’re looking for a movie that doesn’t have a huge focus on violence or drugs and just want some good music and funny quips, this is a great movie to check out.