Michael Bay takes a wrecking ball to the streets of Los Angeles in a wild actioner with a flimsy plot. Ambulance can best be described as a live version of the Grand Theft Auto video game. Adapted from a 2005 Danish film, two disparate brothers cause havoc while trying to escape from a botched bank robbery. Ambulance doesn’t make a lick of sense. But had me laughing much more than expected between the insane shootouts and demolition derby.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as Will Sharp, an ex-Marine with an infant son and a cancer-stricken wife (Moses Ingram). Desperate for money, he goes to his brother, Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal), for help. Will was adopted by Danny’s father, an infamous bank robber who took no prisoners. Will tried his best to get away from his family’s criminal proclivities; which also meant cutting ties with his beloved brother.
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Danny promises millions with an easy score. Steal a massive federal deposit from a downtown bank. Danny has the team and plan worked out. He just needs another trusted man as a driver. The heist devolves into pure chaos. The Sharp brothers are forced to hijack an ambulance with an injured rookie cop (Jackson White) and paramedic, Cam Thompson (Eiza González), as hostages.
The Spectacular Chase in Ambulance
Ambulance trashes LAPD cruisers like a hyperactive toddler with matchbox cars. It is a two-hour onslaught of vehicular destruction. Will and Danny keep the pursuing cops at bay with hairpin turns that would give Formula One racers whiplash. Slick editing, big-budget CGI effects, and metal-crushing collisions fuel a constant source of adrenaline. The chase is spectacular and nearly non-stop throughout the entire runtime.
Director Michael Bay (Bad Boys & Transformers franchises) revels in the extreme. His trademark filmmaking style, nicknamed “Bayhem”, is in glorious form here. Bay uses 360 degree wrap around shots to frame his characters. Then employs close-ups and quick reaction edits to heighten emotional tension. The gunplay and motorized action is also filmed from vertigo-inducing overhead angles. He has the camera swoop down through a seamless mix of practical and virtual placement. Bay immerses you in the momentum thrills. His frenetic approach can be overwhelming. I’ve lambasted Bay in the past for sacrificing storytelling for theatrics. Ambulance’s simple narrative is a bare-bones set-up for the action. Allowing Bay to go big and bold without any reservations.
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The Cast of Ambulance
Universal Pictures
Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II make cheesy dialogue work. Ambulance, much like previous Michael Bay films, has cheap racially tinged jokes. The talented leads get over this hurdle. Both actors exude an intense physical presence. Then have warmth, humor, and a sincere camaraderie when needed. The film flashes back to them as children. The Sharp brothers argue and fight; but defend each other when challenged. Their unbreakable bond is a realistic and necessary anchor.
Eiza González gives a standout performance. Her character is stuck in the middle of a deadly situation. She has to keep herself and the injured cop alive. Michael Bay’s female characters are not usually substantive. There are no slow-motion shots of her running scantily clad. She’s not objectified in any way. I must admit to being surprised. I’d like to believe that Michael Bay has turned a corner in filming women. It’s more likely that Jake Gyllenhaal wouldn’t allow or associate himself with any crude portrayals.
This is a check your brain at the door experience. You could drive an ambulance through the plot holes. I laughed out loud in scenes that probably weren’t meant to be funny. It adds up to a lot more good than bad. The action alone warrants viewing. See Ambulance in the best theater possible.
Ambulance is a production of New Republic Pictures, Bay Films, Endeavor Content, and Project X Entertainment. It will have an April 8th theatrical release from Universal Pictures.
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About The Author
Julian Roman
(1499 Articles Published)
Julian Roman has been with Movieweb for nearly twenty years. An avid film buff, he feels lucky to have interviewed and written extensively about Hollywood’s greatest talents. In his spare time he plays guitar, treasures good company, and always seeks new adventures.
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