Starring: The Beatles
Viewed: On DVD
There is no doubt that the Beatles were a talented bunch. Singers, performers, song-writers, all-round popular guys, and with A Hard Day's Night, they set out to show they've got the skills for movies, too. The over-achieving bastards.
In all honesty, it is very hard to hate the Fab Four, even if you are one of the 43 people that aren't fans of their music. They are so appealing and natural on-screen, I just couldn't help liking them.
They play, well, themselves- and they do a decent job of it. There isn't much of a plot around them, rather a collection of scenarios and running jokes for them to bounce off. The film opens with the group running for their lives, pursued by a mob of rabid female fans, set to the music of the titular tune. They board a train, headed for Liverpool, where they are to perform at a TV studio. There are a few obstacles on the way: Paul's "clean" old grandfather who can't keep himself out of trouble, pesky fans, random interruptions, and the group's long-suffering managers/babysitters trying to keep them all together in the one place at the one time. And occasionally they all break into song just to help people forget there isn't really much happening.
This is mostly an excuse for the boys to sing a couple of ballads and show how charming they can be as a bunch of fun-loving, cheeky, care-free, witty and smart young guys. I was left feeling thoroughly convinced that they would be a fun lot to be around. Yeah, most of A Hard Day's Night is just John, Paul, George and Ringo doin' everyday, on-tour stuff. Amusing themselves, taking a bath, playing cards, reading the mail, running around fields, making fun of the squares- but that's what's so interesting about this. The writers haven't tried to make the Beatles look like heroes or concocted some awful story about them saving the world or doing good deeds. These figures were so exposed to the media, to hype and advertising, but we are shown four ordinary guys being four ordinary guys (who happen to be international superstars). It's a surprisingly intimate insight into life on tour.
This could have ended up being a painfully obvious piece of plugging, but it's smarter than that. Witty one-liners ("What do you call that hairstyle?" "Arthur"), funny sight gags, a host of catchy tunes and a complete lack of pretension help the film along in its slower moments. The style of the film is sometimes so natural, and at other times surpisingly surreal, so it really is not your usual musical crossover movie (ugh, Hannah Montana). The surprisingly unconventional style of the film and the natural charm of its stars make this one worth a look for anybody, not just fans.
Rating: 7
Verdict: A must-see for Beatles fans; an interesting, funny, charming and decidedly different experience for everyone else.
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