Michael Bay returns to the director’s chair in his newest high-speed chase action-thriller “Ambulance,” a formulaic crime movie featuring more of Bay’s gyroscopic camera shots than one could count.

Although incredibly cheesy, Bay’s signature touch upon the film’s action sequences is more apparent than ever, which provides an action-packed experience at every opportunity. Bank heists, fiery explosions, police shootouts and absolute mayhem fill this 2-hour and 17-minute ambulance ride that’ll leave you and your friends on the edge of your seats. 

Similar to the 1990s film “Speed,” the audience is taken upon a fast-paced pursuit of the film’s antihero leads, Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and Danny Sharp (Jake Gyllenhaal), throughout the narrow and heavily-populated streets of Los Angeles. After a bank heist goes wrong they are forced to hijack an ambulance with the film’s female protagonist, paramedic Cam Thompson (Eiza González), as their hostage as she works to save the life of a fatally wounded police officer.

A desperate family man and veteran, Will returns to the world of crime with the influence of his older brother, Danny. Together the two wreak havoc across the city of Los Angeles while leaving nothing to spare in terms of bloodshed or damage. 

Abdul-Mateen and Gyllenhaal pair well together in their close but broken brotherly dynamic, as they attempt to evade the pursuit of the entirety of the Los Angeles Police Department. Gyllenhaal serves as the yin to Abdul-Mateen’s yang, as their values and motivations are brought into question and opposition to their life or death escape from persecution while introducing a dramatic tone into the film’s narrative.

In the midst of such, González shines as the film’s protagonist as she works to save the lives of innocent civilians and police officers that are encountered along the way in her struggle to preserve the life of her fellow hostage, as well as her own. 

Separately, each of the film’s leads excel in their roles. Whether it be in their portrayal as a misguided hero, an unstable convict or a compassionate caregiver, all three performances provide the conviction and gravitas necessary to guarantee the film’s overall success while also staying true to the film’s fun and carefree nature. 

Those who enjoy the overtop and harebrained stunts and battle sequences as depicted in the “Transformers” series and are in the mood for some mindless fun at the movies will find much enjoyment in Bay’s return to form in “Ambulance,” a film with enough suspense to put even the laxest of movie-goers on edge.