Michael Bay’s most controversial film is also his most underrated

ambulance is one of Michael Bay's lesser-known films, but it is far more captivating than many critics and audiences realize. The 2022 film is quite different from most of Bay's other films and sparked heated debate among his fans. Ultimately, the film flopped at the box office and was soon forgotten. Nevertheless, two years after its release, ambulance remains one of the most underrated films in Michael Bay’s filmography.

He is best known for his work in blockbuster franchises such as Transformers And Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesMichael Bay is generally known as an action thriller director with a penchant for explosions. However, Bay has also tried to mix the action genre with other forms of cinema, most notably in films such as Pearl Harbor And Armageddon. Although these experiments have had mixed results, one must at least admire the creativity with which Michael Bay approaches his various projects, especially those that are not already tied to an existing franchise. Despite its lukewarm reception, ambulance remains the best example of Bay's experimental filmmaking, as the director delivered one of his most unique and entertaining films to date.

What is Ambulance about?

ambulance follows two brothers, Danny and Will Sharp, who live in Los Angeles, California. Will is a veteran who struggles to meet his financial needs after leaving the Army, especially after his wife Amy becomes ill. Desperate and unable to raise the money he needs, Will turns to his adopted brother Danny to help him. Danny convinces Will to take part in a bank robbery that is promised to be easy, but things go awry and result in a shootout with the police. The brothers are forced to flee the scene with as much money as they can. hijack a nearby ambulance in an attempt to escape. However, they are forced to take paramedic Cam Thompson hostage and drag her along in a lengthy chase with the police. To make matters even more complicated, they also drag along the wounded Officer Zach, who Will accidentally shot during the robbery.

ambulanceThe two wayward robbers spend the rest of the film in the ambulance, attempting to evade police capture as the situation becomes increasingly heated. In the back of the vehicle, Cam desperately tries to save the wounded cop's life and devise an escape plan. The police eventually catch up to the Sharp brothers and corner them, providing the film's epic climax. As tensions rise, Cam manages to get his hands on a gun and shoots Will, despite knowing he is the more hesitant of the two robbers. Distraught over his brother's apparent death, Danny attempts to kill Cam and himself in front of the assembled crowds gathered to watch the violent affair. A barely alive Will shoots Danny, killing him before he can do any more harm. Will is rescued by the paramedics and is eventually exonerated after Cam and Zach tell authorities he saved them. Cam also manages to secretly give Will's wife some of the stolen money for her operation, which undoubtedly saves her life.

Why is the ambulance so controversial?

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Until the end ambulanceleaves viewers with mixed feelings about the film. The film received mediocre reviews from critics, particularly on Rotten Tomatoes, where it holds an approval rating of 67%. While this isn't a devastatingly low rating, it's certainly lower than most filmmakers would want. ambulanceThe IMDb rating reflects these emotions, with a score of 6.1, indicating generally mediocre reviews of the film. Interestingly, unlike these other two ratings, the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is much higher, standing at a high 88% approval. This is much higher than in many other films by Michael Bay, including Transformers Films, half of which have ratings in the 50s. ambulanceThe reactions to “The 40 Years of Death” are far more polarizing than to Michael Bay’s other films.

The negative reactions to ambulance Note that it makes some of the same mistakes as Michael Bay, focusing heavily on action and repeating the same filmmaking techniques over and over again. For example, the film's constant drone shots, while inventive at times, become quite tiring over time and prove to be severely overused throughout. The story has also been criticized for not always making sense, although this is not uncommon with Bay's other action thrillers. Despite these flaws, many viewers and even some critics recognized that ambulance was a refreshing change for fans of Michael Bay and delivered a film that bodes well for his future as a filmmaker.

“Ambulance” remains Michael Bay’s most underrated film

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Although it was a box office flop, ambulance has merits that other recent Michael Bay films simply don't have. The film is surprisingly complicated when it comes to its characters, particularly Will Sharp, who doesn't want to turn to crime but feels cornered and has no other options. His relationship with his brother Danny is also quite compelling, as the two brothers genuinely love each other. Despite this, Will realizes that Danny is too dangerous to leave alive and must do the unthinkable and kill his brother before he hurts anyone else. Eiza Gonzalez's Cam is also a groundbreaker among Michael Bay's films. While Bay has often been criticized in the past for oversexualizing female characters in his films, Cam stands out as a well-developed character whose contributions to the film are just as important as Danny or Will's.

In a more complex twist than Michael Bay’s films can usually produce, ambulanceThe film's villains are also its victims, as Danny and Will are both products of a broken society that has failed them. Will in particular feels betrayed by the country he risked his life to protect, which leads him to commit the heinous crime that sets up the film's main plot. Michael Bay has previously engaged in social and political commentary, notably in films such as 13 hoursbut rarely does it hit so well, without being harsh, as in ambulanceThe film stands in stark contrast to many of Michael Bay's recent works and suggests that after decades in Hollywood, he may still have some new ideas.

ambulance may not have been the runaway success that Michael Bay and his partners had hoped for, but it deserves far more credit for its inventiveness and interesting characters. The film is far from perfect, but remains a refreshing change of pace for fans of the famous director.

ambulance

Two robbers steal an ambulance after their robbery goes wrong.

director

Michael Bay

Release date

8 April 2022

Pour

Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza Gonzalez

Authors

Chris Fedak, Laurits Munch-Petersen, Lars Andreas Pedersen

Duration

2 hours 16 minutes

Main genre

action

Production company

Universal Pictures, Endeavor Content, New Republic Pictures.