Directed by Michael Bay with a screenplay by Chris Fedak, Ambulance is an American action thriller film and is based on the 2005 Danish film of the same name. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Madden II, and Eiza González as the film’s lead characters.
Set in Los Angeles, struggling former war veteran Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Madden II) is in desperate need of money to pay for his wife’s experimental surgery to treat her cancer. In his time of need, he turns to his adoptive criminal brother Danny Sharp (Jake Gyllenhaal) who convinces him into participating in a bank heist. But things go wrong when Will shoots on-duty cop Officer Zach (Jackson White). The pair take Officer Zach and hijack an ambulance that is carrying ace EMT Cam Thompson (Eiza González), who has to try and hold her nerve while trying to save Officer Zach‘s life, as well as trying to hold her nerve while Danny and Will are attempting to run away from the police and the FBI.
There’s a lot to like about Ambulance. I found it to be actioned-packed and entertaining with the film containing a lot of intense moments that kept me in suspense throughout the feature. Although certain moments of the film are predicable, it still felt that anything could happen at any moment, which helped kept me invested. While Will is built up to be the film’s main character, I felt that Danny and Cam were more interesting characters to watch.
Jake Gyllenhaal shows his range as an actor while portraying Danny. His character is a loose cannon and can be funny one minute, then turn into a madman the next when things don’t go his way, making Gyllenhaal a delight to watch. Eiza González also provides a great performance as the feisty Cam. Her arc is interesting to follow as she is trying to save Officer Zach while also trying to help Will and Danny, and you can feel the toll that is taking on her as with each challenge.
I didn’t like everything that the film had to offer though. I do think the writing could have been improved. While the film is serious and never loses focus, there is quite a bit of comic relief which in certain cases were legitimately funny but there were also a few attempts that didn’t hit the mark or fell flat, making some moments of the film a little awkward.
There is also a unique shot that happens where the camera goes up into the sky, so that you are looking down on Los Angeles and then the camera goes down like you are on a roller coaster. It was interesting the first couple of times, however Michael Bay uses this a lot throughout the film to the point where I started to feel vertigo whenever it happened.
Overall, Ambulance is a thrilling film that has moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you like action thriller films, are a fan of Michael Bay, or Jake Gyllenhaal, then I highly recommend a viewing of Ambulance.
Ambulance is in cinemas now.