Ambulance Girl (2005)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

This was quite good, but Cathy Bates always is. She's funny and relatable here in a heartwarming and bittersweet story of a long term marriage going through some changes. Bates plays an anxiety ridden food writer who experiences a sort of mid life crises and decides to become an EMT despite her fear of (among other things) closed spaces -like the back of an ambulance.Nobody including 'Jane' believes she'll make it through the training and her struggles provide the comic relief here. When Jane receives her certificate and joins the volunteer fire department it causes problems within her marriage and recently sober husband. This made for TYV movie is based on actual events and was also directed by Bates. 02.12.14

This movie really spoke to me about fear and change and how they can affect our lives. There is a classic line in the movie about fear. I have quoted it, not word for word, on various occasions. "Fear is like a hologram. It seems full of substance and depth until you move through it and discover it is an illusion." What a line! The entire movie was about changing and redefining and adding dimensions to life in spite of fear. Kathy Bates was a perfect person to put in that part because she is easy to relate to as an everyday ordinary person who wants to feel needed and validated. The comedy and human drama was just the right mix without being slapstick or maudlin. Kathy and Robin do a great job convincing us of the love and fear in their relationship. Watching them grow and discover themselves was really a treat.

I worked as an EMT and I now work in a related field supplying EMS agencies with specialized medical products for use mainly with babies. I have a lot of contact with small town EMS personnel and I feel they captured her role and lifestyle quite well. There were some "Hollywood moments" but overall this was very entertaining and believable. Small town volunteers need more recognition for the sacrifices and dedication involved with supporting a community! I would love to see more shows like this because the large agencies (NYFD, LAFD, etc) get a lot of media attention and as important and heroic as these people are, there are many, many more small community heroes and heroines who deserve the same recognition.

That song was "Wooly Bully," by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs.I hope this is a pilot that turns into a series. Kathy Bates is always good, and this TV movie is no exception.I could identify with her throwing herself whole-heartedly into whatever she chose, especially the medical things. Some of us do that. Finding something that feels like your life has purpose is important, but so is not taking yourself too seriously.This was a good Lifetime movie, worth watching. It won't keep you riveted to your seat, but it will take you nicely along a comfortable path with great scenery.