Christopher Leone (Parallels) directs this script co-written with Patrick Pianezza about Randy (Rainn Wilson), a burnt-out paramedic who’s completely frazzled. He and his co-worker, Mike (Lil Rel Howery), are directed by their supervisor, Shanice (Yvette Nicole Brown), to take on a new trainee, Jessica (Aimee Carrero), and they embark on a harrowing 24-hour shift, frequently butting heads with ER Dr. Serano (Rob Riggle) as they work to save lives.
This black comedy/drama highlights many of the things wrong with our broken, profit-driven healthcare system. Randy has been on the front lines of the system for 18 years and is completely jaded. His job is stressful, thankless, and often ineffectual. All he wants is to get out. Wilson is fantastic in the role, playing Randy as a man whose empathy has been beaten out of him by a system that doesn’t value his efforts. The thing is, Randy knows he’s good at his job, but he uses gallows humor to work through the stress.
CODE 3
What’s it rated? R
When? 2025
Where’s it showing? Hulu
Both laugh out-loud-funny and break-your-heart sad, it’s a story about an apparently generally unpleasant person who despite his flaws you really want to win. It’s also a reminder of just how valuable good EMTs are. (104 min.) ∆
This article appears in Pets 2026.
