Critic Reviews

“McCartney 3,2,1” is the closest thing to mandatory viewing for every fan of McCartney’s music.

“McCartney 3,2,1” is so compelling and watchable, it feels like the type of art appreciation that should be recreated with absolutely every living musical we still have with us that is willing. If Heinzerling and Rubin have anyone else in mind, we’re all ears.

It is nerdy in the best possible way. ... This is a programme for fans who simply want to enjoy the Beatles’ music, and the biggest one turns out to be McCartney himself.

There’s an electricity in the music itself, paired with Rubin and McCartney’s parallel reactions to discoveries buried deep in these song mixes, that the show almost doesn’t need that added visual momentum. But Heinzerling has a deft touch for when and where to augment the proceedings with an extra light show or to turn McCartney himself into a dolly track pivot point.

Insert your favorite Beatles or McCartney title here — the point is, 3, 2, 1 will have you enthralled. ... McCartney 3, 2, 1 is imbued with a loose, parlor conversation vibe that belies the gravity of the memories and recording studio insights that McCartney peppers into the conversation. 3, 2, 1 is fascinating.

Rubin and McCartney make every musical deep-dive on the piano or mixing desk session truly informative, sharing insights about minute details that breathe new life into songs sometimes taken for granted.

[McCartney] makes occasional (but welcome) detours into his solo and Wings years, using archival photos and film footage. Rubin, in his barefoot-Yoda mode, totally understands that his job here is to just listen and say “Wow.” It’s just three hours of conversation, stretched out over six episodes, but it flies by. This is Paul at his most charming.

Relatively small in scale, "McCartney 3,2,1" might not top that list, but for anyone who knows that it was Lennon who added "It can't get no worse" to McCartney's more upbeat lyrics on "Getting Better," as times for musical nostalgia go, it doesn't get much better than this.

Hulu's "McCartney 3, 2,1" is, quite simply, the most engaging documentary ever made about the songwriting exploits of popular music's most successful composer.

The charm of these six amiable half-hour rambles through the Beatle’s songbook (Disney +) arose from the lavishly bearded producer and co-founder of Def Jam Recordings looking like an indulgent patriarch listening to his prodigal son’s improbable adventures.