User reviews

So if you took Money Train, mated it with The Island and let the child be raised by someone who watched Heat once in 7th grade and thought it was cool but couldn't quite remember everything about it, you'd get this movie. It's really predictable and still entertaining. As with most Mike Bay offerings the female lead manages to stay gorgeous throughout. The male leads either have or don't have a moral compass. And operators, everybody's an operator. JG spends the whole movie accurately pewning people with no red dot and his "flip up back up sights" down. Damn you Old Bay seasoning, you made me think these seasoned fries were crab fries like I'm back at Chickie and Pete's.

Check your brain at the door.

It's a wild ride, that makes NO SENSE.

You have to keep remembering.... it's a Michael Bay film.

Oh... and he LOVES drone footage.

Stylishly directed, jam-packed with chases and keeping the fun aspect alive for the most part if not all the way, Ambulance moves into top gear relatively quick and never takes the foot off the pedal once it gets going but the road it takes to reach its destination ends up being longer than what the gas in the tank can handle, thus resulting in a ride that's running on fumes way before the end is in sight.

Directed by Michael Bay, the premise is simple, setup is quick & thrills are endless even if much of the narrative elements seem underdeveloped. Bay utilises his usual unabashed over-the-top approach that provide his standard blockbuster fares an explosive, extravagant flavour and he amplifies the nonstop action some more with kinetic camerawork, chaotic vibe, frenetic editing and wicked character interplay.

The energy & passion is evident in execution and the use of drones to film the chase sequences is undoubtedly inspiring but this would've been an even better action-thriller if it was trimmed to a tight & tense 90 mins ride. Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II & Eiza González remain in sync with the craziness on display. And while the interest & momentum isn't lost, one does start to feel its 136 mins runtime in the remaining half.

Overall, Ambulance is amusing, entertaining & preposterous in all the ways a Michael Bay film is expected to be but it is also a whole lot of fast fun & furious frivolity that manages to get plenty of mileage out of its barebone premise. The lack of restraint isn't an issue since it is one of the fine qualities of a Bayhem production but its overlong length does leave you feeling more exhausted than exhilarated in the end. In short, a gleeful & enjoyable delight.

Michael Bay is a great action director but he's no story teller.

Stereotypical gunho cops who are outwitted by 2 criminals driving a heavy ambulance carrying 4 people ,even though they drive souped up Ford Mustangs.

Good start but it goes on way too long.

Also the camerawork made me go dizzy.

The action scenes on this movie are awesome. They are intense, fast faced and fun.

But the dialog, oh the dialog is dreadful. The script makes no sense et all. The arguments and actions taken by both cops and thieves are so weak, like if they were leaving in fantasy land. I will not mention any particular situation here cause I don't want to be flagged as spoilers, but just keep in mind that if you are going to watch this movie the script is bonkers.

Also, what is this thing with Michael Bay that the camera viewfinder is always moving like crazy in different directions? Is that his personal directing style?

I did not give this movie a 4/10 star review because of the action scenes. So 6/10 seems fair enough to me.

What should be a fun action flick becomes literally unwatchable as the overuse of shaky cam causes even more headaches and eye rolls than a plot with holes big enough to drive an ambulance through.

I truly don't understand why people watch action movies when they don't even like them? So that they can put 1 star "trash" review on IMDB? This movie is exactly what you expect when you read its description. Also - it's a Bay movie. I really enjoyed the "weird" angles of the camera that everyone's hating here, the cast is really good, it's tense the whole way until the very end. Predictable ending, yes, but it's defo a match for every action-movie lover. The dialogues could have been better, as at times it got a bit cringy and I agree with the fellow haters that at times also a bit stupid. But hey ho, who says action needs too many words? If you want some deep psychological analysis of characters, perhaps better watch something from Trier.

Weird angles, low shots, crane shots, jib shots, drone shots, all of that is combined to form a by-the-books Michael Bay flick. I watched this film during a special premiere in Tallinn and it was way better than expected.

The only reason I bought a ticket was to see Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jake Gyllenhal. There was really no expectation for me going in and then the LA scene started and it felt like I was watching a Bay Boys movies. I get that Bad Boys was based in Florida, but Michael Bay captured the same all-sun hot and fast vibe.

There is not much in terms of a coherent plot. But who cares at this point. You chose to watch a Michael Bay movie. It doesn't make sense? Well nothing by the director has made sense since the 90s. It is all explosive fun.

If you have seen enough Michael Bay movies by now you already know the dizzying circular shots are coming, same camera angles and clips are going to be repeated, but this is certainly one of Mr. Bay's watchable works.

Even as you will be scratching your head why all this is happening the rapid pace just takes you. The best comp I have is Unstoppable starring Chris Pine and Denzel Washington. Not the same level of stakes or execution or suspense or great. But heart pounding nonetheless.

If you like Michael Bay's work, then give this a go. Others who may come in expecting bigger and better things, maybe stay away. This is a action vehicle (literally) so just enjoy it as one no need for a thinking cap on this one.

Michael Bay has made more rubbish films than good. The studios should stop giving him ridiculous budgets because he's just gonna spend it on smashing up as many vehicles as the budget will allow, regardless of trying to entertain the audience with anything resembling a decent film.

All 3 of us hated it.

1/10.

A very enjoyable and entertaining film with lots of Michael Bay's signature style and an outlandish plot. It effectively builds up the tension and manages it keep it high for a long time, punctuated with light hearted moments during the stress and very little down time. It does get quite silly in the second half, but it seems to embrace the absurdity which makes the film even more entertaining. There's plenty of action, police procedural moments and cars being smashed up, but also the physical and emotional conflict between the characters within the ambulance itself. Their backstories are rather cliché, but the acting performances are strong and overall, the production is very well done.

Remake of a Danish comedy in an attempt to make an action movie where the only good thing is the performance of all its actors.

The director in his terrible line of not allowing the film to breathe without any break. The camera totally crazy shaking everywhere and getting to produce serious dizziness.

Michael Bay is back to his old ways. This is an extremely enjoyable popcorn movie. It can be characterized as a mindless action flick. But as I always say, I don't mind mindless if it entertains me. And I was fully entertained. I found myself smiling for most of the movie, constantly at the edge of my seat.

When I say nonstop thrill ride, I mean that to the fullest extent of the phrase. There is about 10 minutes of setup, followed by 2 hours of action and/or suspense. Thirty minutes into the movie I felt like I just watched the climax action scene. I was wondering where the movie could possibly go from there, but there was no need to worry. It took me for a ride. (This is why I love avoiding trailers, I knew nothing going in and had no idea what to expect.)

Everything in this movie is turned up to the max. This is especially the case with the sound effects and musical score. I watched it in IMAX with the giant screen and amazing speakers... it was ecstasy. I could feel the gunshots and explosions. And everything is intensified by the bombastic musical score by beast composer Lorne Balfe.

And this movie has a surprising amount of emotion. It's not subtle, I know it wants me to feel this way with the setup and music. But I still feel it and still enjoy it.

Downsides include some sloppiness with a few of the action moments as well as the editing. And like with any mindless action flick, you have to turn your brain off in some parts. You can't question medical plausibility or why certain drivers seem to really like crashing into stuff. Also, only about half the comedy hit, but the other half wasn't cringe-worthy.

In the end, I had a blast with this movie and will definitely watch it again. My theater was almost empty which is sad. If you like mindless action flicks, go see this in IMAX. It's worth it for this movie more than most.

Side note: this movie has possibly the fastest end credits I've ever seen. I think it might have been 60 or 70 seconds which is ridiculously short for such a big movie. I'm not sure why, maybe they were worried about reaching the 2 hour 20 minute mark and dissuading viewers. But I found it amusing that the credits were as fast-paced as the rest of the movie. (1 viewing, opening Thursday 4/7/2022)

If you thought Michael Bay only dealt with motor vehicles who come from other planets and can transform into giant robots, then think again. The - not so imaginatively titled - "Ambulance" feels like a throwback to his action films of the 1990s, such as 'Bad Boys' and 'The Rock.' If you enjoyed that era of his output then you will definitely a blast here. This time Bay integrates modern film-making technology with the use of drones, which adds a fresh dimension to the chaos.

Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a standout performance, bringing his usual mix of charm and intensity to his role. His portrayal of Danny Sharp, a career bank robber with a complicated moral compass. It's mainly him who anchors the film amidst the mayhem and his ability to convey desperation, wit, and a touch of madness makes him the most compelling aspect of the movie.

While the film excels in delivering non-stop action, it suffers from an overly generous runtime. At over two hours, the relentless pace begins to feel exhaustive, and certain scenes could have been trimmed to maintain a tighter narrative. This would have ensured that the suspense remains sharp and the storyline more concise.

Another point of contention is the film's approach to violence. In true Bay fashion, "Ambulance" features a barrage of bullets, but their impact often feels inconsequential. Characters repeatedly emerge with holes in pretty vital areas and yet feel like they'll be fine when things should probably have been fatal, which diminishes the stakes and undercuts the sense of danger. This almost cartoonish invulnerability might jar viewers seeking a more grounded action experience.

Overall, "Ambulance" is a decent and wild ride that captures the essence of Michael Bay's early work while incorporating contemporary filmmaking techniques. Jake Gyllenhaal's excellent performance is a highlight, though the film could benefit from a leaner edit and a more realistic depiction of its high-stakes shootouts. Despite its flaws, it's a bombastic spectacle that will satisfy fans of Bay's brand of action.

Warning: this film can seriously damage your brain.

The beginning of the film was ok and showed no red flags.

Then grown men started talking like saucy 15-year-olds, and I got that feeling...like I've heard this before. Checked the director - Bay.

Bingo.

Then everything made perfect sense. Thirty-minute-long actions scenes with insane camera work - check. Surreal decision-making in a world that operates in Grand Theft Auto V logic - check. Blatant mockery of politically relevant topics - check.

I can enjoy a Bay film, I love the Rock, and it's very similar. But this one is of complete insanity. It's so incredibly over the top you can't even see the top from here.

And then Bay tries to do drama, and of course, it's excruciating.

There's no reason to try to understand the story since it exists only in this nightmare world where everyone is aggressive, careless, stupid, and has no regard for their or others' lives.

Pros: some decent action scenes and excellent acting by Gyllenhaal.

Cons: it's a nightmare.

Overall, it's a solid live adaptation of a GTA V five-star car chase but with no tanks.

Michael Bay is doing these types better than the transformers series. I liked 6 underground and I liked this. No brainer but mad action. Cast is excellent. Worth watch atleast once.

The only director that can have a thousand insane things happening on screen at the same time and still the movie is boring and dull, story is stupid and plot is nonsensical and probably the worst melodramatic music ever.

Another Bay another dud.

Ambulance is a little too long and the humour doesn't always work which is typical of its director but it's still a strong return to form for Michael Bay that plays to his strengths whilst also having more emotional weight than his usual work.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II gives a great lead performance as an anchor for all the chaos. Jake Gyllenhaal is incredible, gleefully unhinged with lots of erratic energy that's ridiculously fun to watch. Eiza Gonzalez is also great, with a fully realized character and very satisfying emotional journey.

Michael Bay's direction is fantastic, full of the required energy with plenty of visceral action sequences and impressive drone work by Alex Vanover. The music by Lorne Balfe is really good, ridiculously bombastic and epic which works perfectly for a Michael Bay film.

I lasted for 60 minutes.

This film was literally like being on a rollercoaster. I've never witnessed such horrendous filming. Impossible to follow due to constant and unrelenting sweeping and changing angles. I didn't know what was happening. I felt SO sick I had to leave.

There was zero story within the first 60 minutes before I left.

Vue kindly gave me a refund.

Avoid at all costs.

Who makes these films? There were two people in the theatre so this will bomb, as it deserves to.

"Ambulance" is a film with many points in its favor: good performances, first-class cinematography full of well-executed camera movements and impeccable production, however it fails in its script that becomes unoriginal and seems not to move forward. The film becomes boring and fails to be more than another typical product of action movies.