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Parents' Guide to

Yesterday

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Sweet romance, some swearing in appealing comedy/fantasy.

Movie PG-13 2019 116 minutes
Yesterday Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 12+

Based on 22 parent reviews

age 13+

For a Boring Night

It's winter and I was bored. So, I sat through this movie . The only good thing I can say is if you have to use the bathroom, you won't miss anything important.
age 11+

Very pleasant movie

It's a light, touching, kind and funny movie. There isn't any antagonist here, but anyways it was interesting to watch this film. The target audience for this film is whoever likes music. In my opinion, Lily James's acting was really convincing.

This title has:

Great messages

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (22 ):
Kids say (48 ):

With a high-concept premise that could skew either cute or pretty stupid, this easygoing fantasy romcom sticks the landing overall. Patel can actually sing -- he capably performs almost every Beatles song in the movie (from "Let It Be" to "Back in the U.S.S.R.") -- and he's both sweet and relatable. So much so that it would be almost painful to watch him struggle onstage at the beginning of the movie if you didn't know exactly where the story was going. Since you do, the indignities visited on him have a kind of pre-Wonka Charlie Bucket shine, with suffering bearable as a prelude to wild success.

The light touch that Yesterday gives to Jack's rags-to-riches journey is carried forth throughout the entire movie -- nothing's too intense or harsh. The romance between Jack and Ellie is affectionate and gentle; Jack's parents wander through, alternately hugging their son and looking for snacks; the worst thing that the movie's only villain manages to do is tell Jack he's unattractive. At one point, two romantic rivals even resolve their differences with a friendly handshake. It feels like all the rough edges have been sanded off, which isn't an insult: Yesterday is a lot of fun. But you also won't be surprised to find out that the film was scripted by Richard Curtis (he of the similarly mild and enjoyable films Love Actually, Bridget Jones's Diary, and Notting Hill) and directed by Danny Boyle with a Slumdog Millionaire air. If any of those movies are on your faves list, put this one in the "must watch" queue.

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