The setting of this film is in Lowestoft UK. Jack Malik is a frustrated musician and his musical career is going nowhere. His friend/manager Ellie Appleton has plenty of faith in him and his music. The one night that Jack decides to give up, the whole world is momentarily hit with a massive power blackout and Jack is hit by a bus?? When he regains consciousness, Jack learns that he is the only one who knows the music of the Beatles? He also sees that three of his front teeth are knocked out!! This is an unexpected and improbable opportunity!! Jack begins playing the music and claiming it as his own. He becomes a worldwide musical sensation. Jack finds himself drifting away from Ellie? He finally realizes his love for her but she has come intimidated by his success?? Jack will need to make a fundamental moral decision about his music to satisfy his conscience and decide what he truly needs!! He will also need to decide about Ellie and their future!!
This film is a comedy with fantasy elements added. In reality, could this ever really happen?? There is a romance with Ellie that builds over time after Jack’s bus accident. Then, it stalls at one point because they both agree they don’t want to begin a romance if they aren’t ready to get serious. There is a diverse cast with different races, ethnicity and class. Women and black people also have strong central roles. The characters make mistakes but they are thoughtful and respectful. There are clear messages of integrity and courage. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
116 min, Comedy directed by Danny Boyle and written by Richard Curtis, Jack Barth with Himesh Patel, Lily James, Sophia Di Martino, Ellise Chappell, Meera Syal, Harry MIchell, Vincent Franklin, Joel Fry, Michael Kiwanuka, KIarma Sood, Gus Brown, Sanjeev, Bhaskar, Karl Theobald, Alexander Arnold, Dominic Coleman.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10 with 74,258 views, Rotten Tomatoes 63% with 335 critics 89% audience with 14,664 ratings, Roger Ebert 2 1/2* Sheila O’Malley, RollingStone 3 1/2* out of 5* Peter Travers, EmpireOnline 4* Helen O’Hara, Letterboxd 3* out of 5*, Metacritic 55 out of 100 with 45 critics (22 positive 22 mixed, negative 1) 6.3 out of 10 user score (89 positive 52 mixed, 22 negative), Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 5412 reviews, Common Sense Media 4* out of 5* Joyce Slaton, Age 13+, 3* positive, 3* role models, 2* violence, 2* sex, 3* language, 1* consumerism, 3* drinking, drugs & smoking.
Special Note: Filmed in Liverpool, Norfolk, Suffolk, Great Yarmouth, Reading, Essex, Woodbridge; Cardiff, Wales; Moscow, Russia; Los Angeles, California. Himesh Patel did all his own singing and guitar playing. The Beatles had zero input creatively except for the approval of their music being used in the film. Some of the characters share their names with the Beatles songs. Rocky Raccon, Eleanor Rigby, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. The flight attendant on Ed Sheeran’s private jet was actually his wife Cherry Seaborn.
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