No director uses songs more effectively than Edgar Wright, and “Last Night in Soho” creates such an intoxicating atmosphere in replicating the far-out sound and look of London’s swingin’ ’60s as to overcome rough patches in the story.
Saying more would be giving away too much, but Wright oscillates between those two worlds in a dazzling manner, representing a genuine feat of film editing.
The soundtrack, meanwhile, breezily drops in tunes from the likes of Petula Clark, Peter Gordon, Cilla Black, and Dusty Springfield, in places that deftly complement the story.
The story also lags a bit, frankly, during the periods when Taylor-Joy isn’t on screen, indicative of the gaudy levels of star wattage she brings to the proceedings.
How well the movie speaks to you might depend in part on how much the fashions, music and little touches resonate.