Yesterday it was another trip to Cineworld thanks to my Unlimited Card, this time to check out the new film by Michael Bay (Armageddon), Ambulance, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Eiza Gonzalez.
The film opens with decorated veteran Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Aquaman) trying to get insurance money to help cover his wife’s medical bills, but with the surgery being experimental he is having no look getting any help. So he asks for help from his adoptive brother Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal, Donnie Darko, Brokeback Mountain), but with Danny being a career criminal he pulls Will into going on a job with him for the biggest bank heist in Los Angeles history for a whopping $32 (£24) million.
But not everything goes to plan and the idea of a simple get in, get the money and get out all goes wrong with bullets flying everywhere a cop being shot by Will and the pair taking over the Ambulance that the cop is being treated in and taking the cop and Cam (Eiza Gonzalez, Baby Driver. Godzilla Vs Kong) hostage as they try to escape the law across Los Angeles.
As expected from a Michael Bay film, Ambulance is a non-stop rollercoaster ride from the moment that Will and Danny step foot into the ambulance, with lots of explosions, guns going off here there and everywhere and some amazing stunt work during the massive car chase that the film has throughout.
Another thing that really stood out with the film is some of the drone and helicopter shots, they really make some of the scenes pop in the film, such as flying down the side of buildings and rotating to follow the ambulance along the LA streets, I have to say that a lot of these moments are my favourite ones during my viewing of the film.
Gyllenhall, Adbul-Mateen II and Gonzalez certainly play their characters well and although the majority of the film is all about what’s going on in the ambulance and the mahoosive chase scenes they carry off their screen time well.
I also enjoyed watching Garret Dillahunt as Captain Monroe with his somewhat laid back but “get the job done” attitude to catching Will and Danny, with some comedic moments with his rather large dog sitting in a rather tiny car, certainly broke up the flow of the movie and in a good way.
I have to say that I was really looking forward to checking out Ambulance, which is based on the 2005 film Ambulancen which was directed and written by Laurits Munch-Petersen, after seeing the trailer at my local Cineworld some time back, I can’t compare this 2022 version to the 2005 release as I’ve not seen it, but I may try to check it out to see the comparisons.
Sadly all the action doesn’t really make this an amazing film and the 2h 16m running time does seem to drag during the film, Ambulance becomes just one huge car chase and doesn’t offer much more, maybe it could have had a bit shaved off the run time to take away the monotony that we get for just over 2 hours, but if you are one that just loves all-action and not much else then you will no doubt love Ambulance.
Now that's one heck of a massive car chase!
Movie title: Ambulance (2022)
Movie description: Two robbers steal an ambulance after their heist goes awry.
Date published: March 26, 2022
Country: UK
Duration: 2h 16m
Director(s): Michael Bay
Actor(s): Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza González
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
