Review by Jon Donnis
Ambulance is one of those films that comes out of nowhere, I saw no promotion for this film, no PR team got in contact with me, I had no idea it existed, and when I saw it Prime video, I thought I would give it a look. I thought it would be another low budget film. However, this film had a moderate budget of about $40m, is directed by Michael Bay who is known for outstanding action scenes, and has big name actor Jake Gyllenhaal in it.
Ambulance is based on a 2005 Danish film of the same name by Laurits Munch-Petersen and Lars Andreas Pedersen. The basic story sees two adoptive siblings turned bank robbers who hijack an ambulance and take two first responders' hostage.
War Vet Will Sharp, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is in need of $230k for his wife's surgery, he reaches out to his adoptive brother Danny Sharp, played by Jake Gyllenhaal for help. Danny convinces Will to help with a $32m bank heist, although reluctant at first Will realises that this would help solve all his problems and agrees.
Everything is going to plan until Officer Zach, (Jackson White) approaches the bank, Danny pretends to work there, but unable to get Zach to leave, he lets him in to speak to the bank teller, who Zach wants to ask out on a date. Of course, things go wrong and Danny takes Officer Zach hostage.
Before you know it, there is a shootout with another officer, and the LAPD arrive and take out most of the gang, except for Danny and Will who manage to retreat to the garage area, Officer Zach gets shot, and put into an ambulance, Will and Danny try to escape, but find themselves surrounded by cops. They then hijack the Ambulance that Officer Zach is in, while he is being treated by EMT Cam Thompson (Eiza González)
What follows is a truly nonstop, action packed chase with all manner of cops and experts trying to negotiate with the Ambulance, and ultimately try to stop them, all the while Officer Zach is in the back of the Ambulance being attended to by EMT Cam.
Garret Dillahunt as Captain Monroe is also a stand out performance as the main cop trying to stop them.
Ambulance is a classic Michael Bay film, lots of action, explosions, and even decent character development, both before the escape starts and during the chase itself.
The Good
Excellent action scenes, decent performances by all involved. A proper action-packed thriller, and chase film.
The Bad
Michael Bay loves his swooping camera shots, and a few of them mean the need for CGI and some of that CGI is pretty obvious, although it doesn't spoil the film in any way, I am always looking for perfection.
Overall
Thoroughly good action film. Worth a watch for any fan of the genre.
I score Ambulance a solid 8/10
Out now on Amazon Prime - https://amzn.to/3PTvhTq
