Across the Universe (2007)

Across the Universe is a movie made by Beatles obsessives, for Beatles obsessives. No one else need apply . . .

Review by : James O'Ehley

Tinkerbell didn't like the direction things were
going with Peter and Wendy . . .

Let's get one thing clear: if you're not a fan of the Beatles and their music or convinced that the ‘Sixties are the coolest of all decades, then you needn't bother with Across the Universe, a musical consisting entirely of covers of Beatles song set in that tumultuous decade.

Filled with Beatles and 1960's countercultural in-jokes and references, Across the Universe is a trivia high-scorer's wet dream of a movie. Outsiders will be nonplussed as the story is a rather thin – boy meets girl, boy and girl split over her politics and his lack thereof (hey, it was the ‘Sixties!); they decide that after all they do belong together.

The movie is also spread out over an impossibly long running time of two-hours-and-fifteen minutes; most of that running time is filled with endless music sequences consisting of druggy, multi-coloured imagery done with clever puppetry and computers. These sequences are also the movie's biggest strengths as they are done rather inventively and manage to imbue new meaning to old familiar Beatles songs.

Ultimately Across the Universe could have done better if it had been twenty or thirty minutes shorter. Still, it is one of a kind movie. Anyone who is filled with nostalgia for those bygone days (even if they weren't there themselves – usually the best form of nostalgia!) in which rampant materialism were actually frowned upon should check it out. This one has cult written all over it in the way it has managed to split opinion right down on the middle on critics on RottenTomatoes.com. You'll know if you're interested in belonging to this particular cult or not.

Across the Universe scores four stars for Beatles fans and two stars for everybody else. Me? I think it's a four-star flick, but then again I got jokes like “hi, this is Rita. She's a contortionist” (hint: all the major characters in the movie are inspired by Beatles songs). Ha-ha!