As much fun as the TRANSFORMERS movies are, it’s nice to have Michael Bay back to doing what he does best: making high-octane, gorgeous action films for grown-ups. It’s been too long since we got one of these on the big screen.

His most recent outing, 6 UNDERGROUND, which certainly qualifies, was made for Netflix, which means most people did not see it with beautiful big-screen projection and sound. His military drama 13 HOURS was based on a harrowing true story and wasn’t what we’d call “fun” by design. PAIN & GAIN is a darkly hilarious crime film that, for all its qualities, is somewhat light on action.

To find the last tried and true Michael Bay theatrical action film experience, we have to go all the way back to 2005’s THE ISLAND. That’s right, 17 years! So we mean it when we say it’s been a long wait for his upcoming action extravaganza AMBULANCE. Let’s learn a little more about what’s in store.

AMBULANCE is scheduled to hit theaters on April 8, 2022. Its original release date was scheduled a bit earlier, February 18, but the decision was made that the movie should explode into theaters during spring instead. That will probably end up looking like a very wise choice.

You bet! It’s a great one, too Check it out just above.

As you can see, this is about as straightforward as it gets plot-wise, allowing Michael Bay all the room he needs to focus on his trademark mayhem and destruction surrounding characters who always look more like action figures than humans. This one is going to be a blast.

The story in AMBULANCE looks very simple. An innocent and well-meaning veteran needs lots of money to pay for surgery that can save the life of his sick wife. To get the cash, he turns to a criminal family member, who recruits him to pull off a heist. Of course, things go wrong and the rest of the film details their run from the law in a stolen ambulance… in which there just happens to be an EMT trying to save the life of a wounded police officer.

Will the hero get his money? Can he keep things from getting worse? Will he choose to do the right thing and take responsibility for his actions? We’re going to have to watch the film to find out!

For the most part, AMBULANCE looks like a two-hander between two very charming actors. The always entertaining (and sometimes quite unhinged) Jake Gyllenhaal plays the villainous Danny Sharp, who puts this whole heist together in the first place. CANDYMAN’s Yayha Abdul-Mateen II plays the hero, William Sharp, who is torn between doing the right thing and saving his wife’s life.

They’ll be supported by some great familiar faces as well, such as Garret Dillahunt, Wale Folarin, Jesse Garcia, and Eiza González.

Michael Bay! Truly, Bay’s return to big-budget, R-rated action cinema is the main reason to celebrate the release of AMBULANCE. This looks like the perfect kind of film to let Bay deliver all the fun and wild quirks he’s known for. We can’t wait to see what he does with it.

The film was written by Chris Fedak, whose previous credits include television shows such as LEGENDS OF TOMORROW, DECEPTION, and CHUCK. This movie is a remake of a Danish movie from 2005, and while the story appears to be pretty similar the entire appeal of this version is seeing how Bay applies his signature style to the story — not to mention the pleasure of seeing the two lead actors go head to head.

AMBULANCE opens on April 8!

All images courtesy of Universal Pictures.