'Ambulance' Review: The 90s Are Back. It's Loud, Excessive, And Michael Bay's Best Film In Over Two Decades

Arlington TX

11 April, 2022

6:01 PM

Description

By Joe Friar, Fort Worth Report April 10, 2022 What do the films "Speed," "Heat," and "Ambulance" have in common? There are several correct answers. All take place on the streets of Los Angeles, all three feature explosions, cops, shootouts, and car chases, and all three films have one-word titles. But only one is directed by Michael Bay and "Ambulance" is the only film that can get away with highlighting letters in the title ("LA") in an effort to be faddy. Of course, you could highlight "PEE" in "Speed" because seriously "What do you do when you have to go?!" Wait a minute, that could have been the film's catchphrase. And you could highlight "EAT" in "Heat" because of the anticipated Pacino-De Niro diner scene, but let's get back to "LA Ambulance" to discuss Bay's best work since 1996's "The Rock." Sean Connery said it best as John Patrick Mason in Michael Bay's 1996 film "The Rock": "Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f**k the prom queen." Over the last 26 years, the word "Best" has seldom been used in the cinematic world to describe the action director's films. However, "Winner" is a word associated with Bay whose films have grossed over $7.8 billion worldwide thanks in part to the five Transformers" films he directed which took in $4.3 billion worldwide. Bay returns to his roots with "Ambulance" an excessive shoot 'em up bank heist film whose explosions will be felt and heard by the moviegoers trying to watch "Mothering Sunday" in the auditorium next door. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ("Candyman") plays veteran Will Sharp whose wife Amy (Moses Ingram) is in dire need of a live-saving-surgery (Surprise! Not covered by insurance) that costs over $200,000. Struggling to make ends meet, the former Marine and father of a newborn, goes against his wife's better judgment by reaching out to his adoptive brother Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal), a seasoned criminal, for help. To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.