Because Any Band Can Be Made Into a Jukebox Musical. Especially the Beatles.

The Beatles are, without a doubt, the most iconic band in history. Not one of, or even close to, the most iconic band ever, period. From more wholesome- boy-band style hits like “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You” (Yeah yeah YEAH!) to more “edgy” tunes like “Come Together” and “Happiness is a Warm Gun,” (let’s just say that these guys did enough drugs to kill a horse) this band has stood the test of time with their signature style and exquisite melodies. So, why not have a jukebox musical about them? They do have enough songs to fill one, if not two, after all!

The film follows a young Liverpudlian man named Jude (named for the Beatles song “Hey Jude”) who, curious about his father he never met who had served in World War II, decides to go to the States in search of him, and ends up in New York City of all places. Along the way, he meets Max, a college student whose attitude is very much like his, and falls for his lovely blonde sister Lucy (named for Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, natch.) Among the other colorful cast of characters he meets include a Janis Joplin-style singer Sexy Sadie, lesbian Prudence (named for the Beatles song “Dear Prudence”) who’s trapped in the closet both literally and figuratively, and JoJo, as a young black musician trying to navigate his own life in a world petrified by racism and protests. Meanwhile, the romance of Jude and Lucy is deeply impacted by the Vietnam War, especially after the former gets enlisted- to the song “I Want You,” no less. (Three guesses as to who “wants” him here.) Will the two of them be able to rekindle their romance in a time full of unpredictability and tumult? (No spoilers here- watch the film for yourself.)

Is it any good? While, not to a lot of critics, who criticized it as just a silly romance that just so happened to have Beatles songs in it, complete with flashy movie stars. Okay, so while it might seem a bit weird that young millennials who probably weren’t even born when John Lennon was shot, let alone old enough to remember that, singing songs from that era, it’s actually quite an entertaining and wild ride. Granted, that’s pretty much to be expected about a period piece of the 60s, especially one involving God knows how many Beatles songs. And, for all its faults, nobody can deny that it has an amazing soundtrack- it’s the Beatles, enough said! Not to mention, history buffs will appreciate the historical context put into this film, showcasing everything from the Vietnam War to the Civil Rights movement. You can tell that these guys did their research here!

In short, this was a great Beatles jukebox musical and period piece- a must for the video library of any Beatlemaniac or musical fan. 3 1/2 stars out of 5.