Ambulance (2022)

AMBULANCE (2022)

Decorated veteran Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), desperate for money to cover his wife’s medical bills, asks for help from his adoptive brother Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal). A charismatic career criminal, Danny instead offers him a score: the biggest bank heist in Los Angeles history: $32 million.

Michael Bay’s new movie, AMBULANCE is over two hours of non-stop action. Combining a bank heist in which the bank robbers are forced to use an ambulance as a getaway vehicle with a critically wounded police officer and paramedic held hostage in the back while being chased by helicopters, police cars and motorcycles.

In many ways, the story is like any other chase movie but, unlike many other modern movies in the genre, Michael Bay has chosen to do all the stunts without CGI and uses actual human stunt men and women. This makes the action all that more impressive.

Jake Gyllenhaal, of course, is the standout performer with his complex character, but the supporting cast are also very good. I particularly enjoyed Eiza González as the paramedic who has to carefully navigate dealing with the two robbers while trying to keep her patient alive travelling at high speed.

Of course, AMBULANCE requires us to suspend our disbelief given that most of what happens would be impossible in real life. But that’s what popcorn entertainment is all about and it’s all done in Michael Bay’s frenetic style with him using almost every cinematic trick in the book.

The complexity of the two brothers’ relationship and personalities does offer an interesting layer to the story.

You won’t be surprised to know there is lots of violence and endless car crashes and, just occasionally, a touch of humour to relieve all that tension.

AMBULANCE is an ok piece of entertainment and, to get maximum enjoyment, it needs to be seen on the big screen.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your movie guide for your local show times.)