MOVIE: Baby Driver passes its NCT with flying colours 

UNFORTUNATELY there isn’t yet a requirement for movie producers to take their films to a testing centre to check its roadworthiness. 

If there were, many a creation would not see the light of day or the darkness of a cinema. 

The new film however, from English writer/director Edgar Wright, would pass any examination on almost every metric.  

‘Baby Driver’ tells the story of Baby (yes that’s his name), who, due to his excellent car handling skills and unfortunate run in with the wrong felon, has been recruited as a reluctant getaway driver by criminal mastermind, Doc (played by Kevin Spacey). 

Doc understands that while Baby is somewhat of an eccentric whizz-kid, who lives his life to the sound and rhythm of the music constantly piped through his headphones, he is also the best driver in the business.

Baby’s eccentricities and quietness causes friction amongst his heist companions (two of whom are played by Jamie Foxx and John Hamm), and his desire to leave the world of crime behind, means he’s on a crash course with his mobster mates. 

Wright, of course, is the creative genius behind ‘Shaun of the Dead’, ‘Hot Fuzz’ and ‘The World’s End’, but this film is a far cry from any of those, excellent as they were. 

For a start it’s not a comedy, and Simon Pegg is nowhere to be seen. In many ways it’s difficult to put a label on ‘Baby Driver’, as it’s very much unique. 

The manner in which Wright scripted, directed and choreographed the scenes where Baby literally moves and grooves in time to the beat of the film’s soundtrack, is awesomely groundbreaking. 

Ansel Elgort (‘The Fault in our Stars’) is stylishly charismatic in the lead role as is Lily James (‘Cinderella’) as his love interest. 

If the movie falls down at any point it’s at the finale, where it feels like Wright has parked his ingenuity for story in favour of a standard Hollywood shootout, possibly to satisfy studio execs. 

This aside, ‘Baby Driver’ is a smooth and satisfying ride, we score, a fuel injected 4 out of 5 stars.    

Other Releases: 

‘The House’ – 3 stars

Paul O’Rourke