AMBULANCE (2022) – My rating: 7.5

“Ambulance” is an action thriller directed and produced by Michael Bay. A co-production between New Republic Pictures, Bay Films, Endeavor Content, and Project X Entertainment. The film is based on the 2005 Danish film of the same name by Laurits Munch-Petersen and Lars Andreas Pedersen. The story follows two adoptive siblings turned bank robbers who hijack an ambulance and take two first responders hostage. The movie has Lots of action but is totally unbelievable.

War veteran Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who desperately needs $231,000 for his wife Amy’s (Moses Ingram) surgery, reaches out to Danny Sharp (Jake Gyllenhaal), his adoptive brother and a life-long criminal, who talks him into taking part in a $32 million bank heist. Will initially refuses but agrees after Danny reminds Will of his wife’s expensive surgery, which is not covered by insurance. The heist nearly succeeds until Officer Zach (Jackson White), who returns to the bank to ask out a bank teller, discovers a heist is taking place and becomes a hostage, held and shot by Danny. A shootout then occurs between one of the heist members and Zach’s partner, Officer Mark (Cedric Sanders). The journey begins with the two brothers trying to escape from the bank and finally end up in the same ambulance as the wounded Officer Zach.  What ensues is a race against good and bad for a substantial amount of time.

“Ambulance” will go down as having one of the longest vehicle chases in the history of Hollywood films. At least half of the movie involved the chase between the ambulance and scores of police vehicles.  Oddly, the chase was kept interesting and revealed Will’s many talents.  You were kept in suspense the whole time.  The director was good at not giving away the ending nor the true prognosis of Officer Zach.  No plan at all turned into a plan after plan after plan, thereby keeping the audience in the dark.  While the entire premise was unbelievable, “Ambulance” was still entertaining. The two brothers acted their roles brilliantly and saved an otherwise ho-hum adventure. As of April 19, 2022, Ambulance has grossed $16.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $24.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $41.1 million. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 68% of 208 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “At top speed and with sirens wailing, Ambulance comes riding to the rescue for audiences facing an emergency shortage of Michael Bay action thrills.” You can catch “Ambulance” in theaters — Check It Out!