The first reviews are in for Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's new action flick Ambulance – and its a decidedly mixed bunch.
The new Michael Bay film sees the Marvel and Matrix Resurrections stars as adoptive siblings Danny and Will, who try to stage a bank heist and end up hijacking an ambulance to escape.
A remake of the 2005 Danish film of the same name, the US version has so far attracted a 67% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, with some critics calling it an entertaining ride, while others have suggested it "flatlines".
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Here's what reviewers are saying:
The Times
"Make no mistake, this is not Citizen Kane. It's not profound, or meaningful, or it won't make you contemplate your place in the universe. It's a Michael Bay movie after all. But it's also more than that. It's 'the' Michael Bay movie. He's finally done it."
Radio Times
"Although technically a remake of a 2005 Danish film of the same name, Bay claims he deliberately avoided watching that version in a bid to make Ambulance as distinct as possible – and indeed nobody could deny that the Transformers filmmaker's stamp is all over this rather relentless film, which proves great entertainment value in spite of a multitude of flaws."
The Times of India
"While the overblown visual dynamic of his previous work is scaled down here, Bay still doesn't show the restraint needed for more nuanced fare. Ironically, the emotional scenes with Will, Danny and Cam are far more impactful than all the massive shootouts.
"With its gripping premise paired with engaging performances from all involved, Ambulance could have made for a top-tier action drama. But it falls short simply because Michael Bay can't help himself from his trademark style."
The Guardian
"If only Bay had used natural style and humour of Gyllenhaal and Abdul-Mateen. Instead, they look like people who have never met before stepping out of their luxury trailers. In dialogue scenes, each man looks like he's looking at a greenscreen, and [Eiza] González has nothing to work with. And for all the spectacular action set pieces, there's something silly and tedious that sets in well before the two-hour mark. It flatlines."
Ambulance will be released in UK cinemas on March 25, and US cinemas on April 8.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
