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Yesterday

What I liked: I few years ago I had the great adventure of a cruise. The cruise line was targeted to people my grandmother's age, so every night somewhere on the ship was a Beatles tribute concert. I listened to a lot of Beatles music. Yesterday is not like being on a ship full of grandparents trying to remember the lyrics to the third verse of "In My Life." Instead we get some long shots of English cities as people hear Beatles' songs for the first time. It's charming. It's creative. And despite being the length of a Beatles tribute concert it is more engaging and more fun. I mostly liked how very normal all of the people were. The struggling musician living with his parents who wish he'd get a real job. Trying to put on a tiny concert for the neighbor but being constantly interrupted. Their moron friend and the weedy recording artist. It all felt just right. I must say never before in my life has a plastic submarine bath toy inspired more dread. Admittedly, it was very little dread, but still more than one usually expects from a bath toy. I liked all of the other things that were also missing from the alternative reality and I really liked the google searches.

What I didn't: I don't know if I liked the love story. Clearly the writers like the love story. Either way one must admit that Gavin is a superbly decent guy. I did not love how many scenes there were with missing teeth. I mean they were convincing and all, but that made them hard to look at. I was slightly confused by the choice of who got cameos. I do feel like after everything resolves there would be at least 4 very very very confused people in the world.

Who should watch this? People who like Beatles music but not so much that they want to sit through 12 hours of Beatles music on a cruise ship. People looking for inspiration to stick with their faltering music career. People who want a fun creative little movie. Not for people who really care about the lyrics to Eleanor Rigby. 

Would I watch it again? With someone who hadn't seen it.

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