Review: Baby Driver

The coolest movie of the summer has finally arrived. Baby Driver is driven with great writing, acting and direction. Plus, the film features a killer soundtrack!

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Put the petal to the metal, Baby Driver is a summer movie sensation. Fueled by fast-paced action that is both smartly written and character driven. Writer-director, Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) hits a new high is his superb career. In a world, full of bloated CGI, Baby Driver goes retro as there is little to no CGI or green screen used in the car chase sequences. The driving is all practically done. The intensity you feel rush through your bones, while watching the thrilling car chase scenes was captured in real time and live stunts.

This just goes to show how brilliant Wright really is as a filmmaker. Without giving away too much of the plot, after being coerced into working for a crime boss (a vicious Kevin Spacey), a young getaway driver (a fantastic Ansel Elgort) finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail. That’s all I will say about the plot and the rest is waiting for you to experience on the big screen. Alongside, the exceptional writing is the star-studded character development. Elgort plays Baby, a getaway driver, who through his charm and “Kubrick look” will win your heart. Spacey plays Doc, a vicious mastermind behind the planning and execution of the ongoing robberies.

Doc calls Baby his lucky charm because he has used him for multiple heists. Lilly James plays Debra, a young waitress and Baby’s girlfriend. James evolves perfectly into her character and doesn’t run into the cliché girlfriend role. Jamie Foxx plays Bats, a psychopath who would creepy out even your average, everyday psychopaths. John Hamm plays Buddy, the handsome criminal who you don’t want to cross. Eiza González plays Darling, Buddy’s dame and faithful partner in crime. Wright takes his time with each character showing us their strengths and weaknesses throughout the film. Baby Driver also has a killer soundtrack that packs in a punch.

​Songs like Bellbottoms by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Harlem Shuffle by Bob & Earl, Easy by The Commodores, B-A-B-Y by Carla Thomas, Debra by Beck, Every Little Bit Hurts by Brenda Holloway, Hocus Pocus by Focus, Radar Love by Golden Earring and Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up by Barry White. Needless to say, Baby Driver delivers and is not only one of the best films of the summer, it’s one of the best films of the year. Masterfully crafted and well-executed, Baby Driver will leave you wanting more after the credits roll. In time, it will go down as a new American classic. I had a blast from the opening scene until the very last and I hope you do as well. Yes, the coolest movie of the summer has finally arrived. Check it out now!

Baby Driver is rated R (Restricted). For violence and language throughout.