Fun Movie - Style Over Substance

Rating: 7/10 (17 July 2017)

I saw Baby Driver twice. The first time, I really left feeling ambiguous about it. I overwhelmingly felt like the lack of plot detracted from the quality of them movie.
The second time I watched it, I actually enjoyed it. This is Edgar Wright doing what he does best. The movie is highly stylistic and almost the entire movie is set to music. The action, the dialogue, nearly everything is in time with a song or a drum solo or a guitar riff. The acting is good, for the most part. Kevin Spacey is always exceptional - he seems to excel at playing somewhat devious characters. Ansel is very charismatic, and though he doesn't actually speak much during this film, he still commands attention and you develop an affection for his character. My only issue is with his love interest. Debora is, as female characters tend to be, only there to further Baby's plot line. Their chemistry makes sense, but her complete willingness to run away with a person entrenched in a world of crime that she barely knows really bothered me. I still left feeling as though the plot was substandard, but it didn't really matter. This movie is not about the plot, it is about the experience. There are breathtaking car chase scenes and just generally excellent cinematography. The color schemes are poignant and deliberate, and the consistent music supplies the tone and pace for every scene. Overall, I would say this movie is worth a watch. Just don't go in expecting a heavily plot driven movie or a ton of character development.