AMBULANCE

Ambulance is director Michael Bay’s action movie about a bank heist gone wrong and only two thieves are left alive and manage to escape the building. Going into the screening for Universal Studio’s new film, I thought I had seen most of what the film is about: a robbery, gunshots, lots of law enforcement and an extended chase scene through most of the streets and highways of Los Angeles. To a degree, yes that is mostly it, but it does have a few extra interesting scenes and characters from an additional part of the story not seen in the trailer. It kept me interested in the film despite the long time devoted to driving and stunts. It is intense and I felt every moment of it until the end.

Director Michael Bay’s productions are known to be over-the-top when it comes to action and long- term fans of his work will be very pleased with the amount of it, including cars flying in all directions and manners, as well as having vehicles manage to get through many barriers most citizens can’t. Fear not, most of the film is focused on the ambulance chase, yet it manages to return to the multiple character’s relationships, both current and in the past. This screenplay by Chris Fedak does keep the viewer interested in the characters and how their relationships either help or hinder the action that is going on, all in one day. The intensity of all the action may be exhausting for some film fans, but under Bay’s direction, he takes his time building up to the next level of “the plan” the bank robbers have in order to make their supposed great escape.

Former U.S. Marine Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is married with an infant son and his wife needs and operation. Lacking funds for the medical bills, he approaches his adoptive brother, Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal) for a small loan. Danny followed his father’s footsteps to become a career criminal, so he takes advantage of Will’s needs/skills. Zach (Jackson White) is a rookie cop who goes inside to talk to one of the bank tellers for personal reasons- not knowing what is going down. Wrong place/wrong time, he is shot. An ambulance arrives to pick up the wounded cop, Will and Danny escape, kidnapping EMT Cam Thompson (Eiza González, Baby Driver) to keep Zach alive. Danny’s “plan” is not enough, and they are running by the seat of their pants. I am thoroughly pleased that this story features González so prominently alongside Gyllenhaal/ Abdul-Mateen II, providing the viewer with some of her back story, skills and ability to keep Zack alive. She tries to maintain some type of sanity on board, especially when Danny is pushed to the highest level of manic (and Gyllenhaal performs at his best). I felt there are many reasons for the viewers to root for the former Marine who is desperate to take care of his family and elects to go back to the life he left behind as a last resort. Danny decides to call on his father’s former allies to help fight off the law enforcement on his tale. I don’t want to spoil the film, but there are many well – known TV series/film actors who portray characters assisting Danny, and it comes with a price. It is refreshing to see the screenwriter tap into the diversity of people who reside in LA as part of the story.

There is plenty of violence in the film, so viewers beware there is blood spurts/puddles, bloody wounds and related medical treatment, including that of a child. Yes, it is rated R for this and other reasons.

The 2 hour and 16 – minute film opens In theaters April 8, 2022. Source: Studio: Universal Pictures

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