Ambulance Movie Review “Ambulance” could have been a top-notch action thriller with catchy performances and an entertaining premise, but thanks to Behem.
Ambulance Movie Review
William Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a war veteran who needs money to pay for his wife’s medical bills, contacts his brother Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal) to help her. However, Danny is a bank thief on the verge of a major heist, and he convinces Will to help out with the task, which will set him up for life. Will reluctantly agrees, but gets more than a sign up when a robbery goes wrong after a beat cop is shot. Surrounded by law enforcement officers, the brothers are forced to hijack an ambulance with an EMT, Cam Thompson (Eiza Gonzalez), and a seriously injured cop. In addition to trying to escape, the brothers now need to keep their hostages alive.
“Speed” mixes with a dash of “heat” from “Bad Boys” in this character-driven, action-packed drama written by Chris Fedak. Based on the 2005 Danish film of the same name, Michael Bay applied his trademark stamp to give it a blockbuster glow. Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II are both capable actors who do enough justice to their characters Danny and Will. Siblings are given adequate development before their plans fail. Bay knows a thing or two about the chase, and he keeps the tension to the max. Even when the action slows down for moments of character, there is always restlessness.
It works well for most of the film. However, the director’s specific penchant for camera movement and choppy editing is often distracting. While the overarching visual dynamism of his previous work is mitigated here, Bey still does not show the restraint required for more subtle fare. Ironically, the emotional scenes with Will, Danny, and Cam are far more impressive than all the mass shootouts. With its gripping premise along with engaging performances from all involved, ‘Ambulance’ could have made for a top-notch action drama. But it only falls short because Michael Bay can’t help himself with his trademark style.
