Michael Bay may not be considered the best filmmaker of his generation, but he is definitely one of the most entertaining and energetic directors in Hollywood. From action thrillers likeThe Rock, to massive box office franchises such asTransformersandBad Boys, Bay is an expert when it comes to delivering big explosions, intense fight scenes, and slam-bang shootouts. His most recent feature,Ambulance, is a small-scale actioner in comparison to Bay’s previous films, but it still contains heavy-hitting sequences of chaos and mayhem.
While several of Bay’s movies have topped the box office in the past twenty-five years,Ambulanceunderperformed and became a financial flop. This is most likely the result of a number of factors: superhero films (specifically from the MCU and DC) continue to dominate theaters, heist and getaway features aren’t as popular now compared to classics from the past, and the plot is too familiar for audiences to deeply care for. However,Ambulanceshould have been a box office success because it’s one of Bay’s strongest films (narratively speaking) and a tribute to 90s action thrillers (along with a couple of references to Bay’s best movies).
RELATED:Ambulance Review
The Plot Is Actually More Intriguing Than Expected
There’s a moment in the film when a character asks, “Do people still rob banks?” That notion alone shows that perhaps many people find this concept old and tired, especially in today’s digital era of bitcoin and cryptocurrency. The plot revolves around Danny Sharp (intensely performed by Jake Gyllenhaal) and his adoptive brother Will (another strong turn from rising star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). Danny is a charismatic and hypertensive manic criminal, while Will is an ex-soldier who desperately needs money to pay for his wife’s cancer surgery and to provide for his child.
Will reluctantly agrees to tag along with Danny and his crew to steal $32 million from a major L.A. bank. While the robbery goes smoothly, the police, the F.B.I., and other law enforcement agencies take action, wiping out Danny’s crew. Will and Danny manage to hijack an ambulance in order to escape, but along with being chased by the police, the ambulance contains two hostages: an EMT worker named Cam Thompson (Eiza González) and Zach (a policeman accidentally shot by Will).
What makes the plot ofAmbulanceintriguing is that Danny and Will are sympathetic characters who are primarily after the money due to desperation and need, and don’t intend to kill anyone. However, their actions leavea trail of harm and destruction. Danny clearly cares for Will and does everything he can to help his brother escape, but Danny’s tense behavior and impatience make him fearful and vulnerable in high-pressure situations, leading to some costly decisions. Will has more heart because he takes responsibility for his own actions, such as helping Cam save Zach by giving blood and assisting in an intense life-and-death medical procedure directly monitored through Zoom.
Ambulance Pays Homage To 90s Action Thrillers
Bay’s film contains some elements ofMichael Mann’s crime dramaHeatdue to the concept of robbing a bank, and loud gunfights between cops and robbers. There are also traces ofSpeedbecause of the fast-paced car chases, mostly involving the ambulance Danny and Will hijack that’s being chased by police vehicles and helicopters throughout the movie.
Of course, even in a smaller action film like this, the car crashes are impactful to watch, and the shootouts are bloody. One of the film’s best moments occurs when Danny places his upper body outside the ambulance window in order to fire at a helicopter, while Will drives through a river and Cam monitors Officer Zach’s vitals, all going on at the same time.
Bay’s Film Is Also A Tribute To Frontline Workers
While Bay has effectively depicted the military in the past (even in the flawed and overlongPearl Harbor), this movie powerfully displays the humanity, skill, and determination of first responders. From the F.B.I. and patrolmen who are tracking down the bank robbers, to the EMTs and paramedics who work efficiently to save lives, Bay offers a glimpse of the challenges these essential workers face every day. In fact, Bay included real-life cops and patrol officers in the film, and used a number of ambulance vehicles during production.
Eiza González worked with firefighters and medical professionals in order to prepare for her role as an EMT worker, and was also driven around L.A. in a rented ambulance.González delivers one of her best roles to dateas Cam Thompson, depicting her as a strong EMT professional who’s quick and steady at her job, while also trying to control her emotions when it comes to dealing with the stress involved in saving people with heavy injuries. Cam also fears for her life as a hostage, but tries her best to cooperate with Will and Danny to make it out alive.
Ambulanceis also a fitting movie for these current times because Baydirected this feature during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bay’s plans to commit to another large action film,Black Five, were scrapped, so he took on this smaller but enlightening project to keep himself busy. Amidst the pandemic, the rise in crime, inflation, and global conflicts,Ambulanceis a feature that highlights some of these issues that continue to go on in the world today, and that there are real-life human superheroes (first responders and medical workers) who are always ready to answer the call.
Bay once again proves that he can make a small-scale action thriller with intense characters and eye-popping sequences.Ambulanceis in fact a remake of the 2005 Danish film of the same name, but Bay wisely chose not to watch the original film nor view its script so that he can make his own version of the story (along with his stylish visuals of the characters and the city of Los Angeles). The action genre may be declining due tothe popularity of the superhero genre, but that will not stop a talented filmmaker like Michael Bay, who still has plenty to offer as an action director.
