Hot Take: Play this movie on repeat! The most fun I’ve had at the movies all year.
It’s rare to walk out of a movie with the feeling of wanting to run to the box office, buy another ticket and watch the same movie again. With Baby Driver, the adrenaline rush of an action flick infused with a killer soundtrack and an excellent cast from Edgar Wright, the desire to see it again hit me about 30 minutes in and still hasn’t left. It’s currently the movie of the summer and going to be very difficult to unseat.
It feels wrong to say that Baby Driver has a generic story. The tale is woven together in such an original way that it never feels generic. It’s easily the coolest film of the summer. Here’s the skinny on the story: Baby (Ansel Elgort) is a getaway driver with a hearing problem that is dealt with by listening to music through headphones. The problem (tinnitus) stemmed from a car accident that killed his parents when he was young and put him into foster care. After lifting the wrong car when he was a kid, Baby owed a big debt to Doc (Kevin Spacey), a mastermind who organizes bank robberies. Baby wants out and he’s one job away from paying off his debt when he meets a waitress named Debora (Lily James) who he instantly falls for. Once he clears his slate with Doc, he thinks he’s out but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Fearful for what Doc might do to Debora or his deaf foster father Joseph (CJ Jones), Baby agrees to continue working as Doc’s getaway driver for his crews that consist of Tarantino-esque supporting characters which include stellar performances by Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, Eiza González, Flea, Lanny Joon and Jon Bernthal.
Where Baby Driver delivers is with the infusion of music to drive the storyline. With an eclectic soundtrack that includes Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers, The Commodores, Carla Thomas, Dave Brubeck, The Damned, T. Rex, Martha and the Vandellas, Sam & Dave, Blur, Barry White and more (Yes! More!), Baby Driver could almost be called an action musical. It also has some of the best chase scenes which are a staple of many a great action flick. For its contribution, Baby Driver offers a car chase buffet.
Credit a terrific opening scene and a great musical interlude that got me hooked but that doesn’t take anything away from the rest of the film which is a non-stop thrill ride where even the exposition has a catchy beat. Elgort and James as Baby and Debora have great chemistry, too. They might be the best action movie couple since Clarence and Alabama in True Romance. If there’s a complaint, it’s minor and not worthy of mentioning. It’s important to caution any audience member that might be offended by the Grand Theft Auto-style violence. However, it fits the film like a glove.
Baby Driver is not only a movie I loved but I hope everyone loves. Normally, I don’t care what others think but this is the type of movie I want to see at the cinema and if it achieves success and accolades, we’ll hopefully get more like it. If you see one movie this summer in theaters, let it be Baby Driver.
“Spoiler Free” Pros
- The Chases
Framed impeccably and choreographed like a dance. - The Soundtrack
Pitch perfect. - The Cast
Fitting and game for the occasion.
“Spoiler Free” Cons
- I Have to Wait to See It Again?
Why did I have to go to the last showing of the night?
I sorta kinda wanna see this movie.