Stands Right Alongside Mr. Wright's Other Works

Rating: 8/10 (7 July 2017)

No Spoilers
It really speaks to the state of the film industry that Edgar Wright is not a household name. Wright has perhaps the largest cult following of any individual in Hollywood, his films are consistently met with critical acclaim, and yet it continues to be difficult for him to generate box office revenue. One has to believe that it is because he refuses to indulge the "mainstream" movie industry. He refuses to accept writing/directing roles for superhero movies, remakes, sequels, and so on. He did sign up to make Ant-Man, but clearly his originality was too much for Marvel and he was booted early on in production. Baby Driver may be his biggest financial success, and it will never be number 1 at the box office. It is unfortunate that the general public is so unreceptive to original screenplays. That being said, fortunately for Mr. Wright's cult following, Baby Driver is easily able to stand alongside his other films.
Baby Driver follows a young, talented get-away car driver known simply as "Baby." Baby has found himself in the unfortunate situation of being in debt to heist mastermind Doc (Kevin Spacey) and serves as the driver for all of his jobs. Along the way, Baby has to deal with Doc's unstable employees (Jamie Foxx and John Hamm among others), and court local waitress Deborah (Lily James). The plot in the second act , overall, is pretty weak. It never feels like it has a definitive sense of direction. Character personalities and motivations are a bit confusing and there isn't any satisfying payoff.
While the plot may not be extraordinary, it seems that Wright never intended the plot to be the focus of the movie. The real backbone of the film is the soundtrack. Having been in a car accident as a child, Baby suffers from tinnitus. To drown out the ringing in his ears, Baby constantly listens to his iPod. This music controls the driving, running, and even gunshots throughout the film. It may sound cheesy, but it is an absolute joy and you will be toe-tapping and head- bobbing throughout the entire film.
Further contributing to the enjoyable nature of this film is its humor. As with most of Mr. Wright's films, Baby Driver is packed with subtle, self-aware humor. It comes frequently and often unexpectedly. Additionally, the stunt driving and chase scenes are the best since the original Bourne trilogy. It is clear how much effort went into these sequences and it certainly pays off.
Overview:
Baby Driver is a rip-roaring, fun time at the movies that overcomes a so-so plot with some fantastic action scenes and a kick butt soundtrack.