Road House
review by Bobby Blakey
Director Doug Liman knows his way around the action genre with films like Edge of Tomorrow and Mr. and Mrs. Smith under his belt. When it was announced that he would be teaming up with Jake Gyllenhaal for a reimagining for the 1989 Patrick Swayze cult hit Road House, it was unsurprisingly met with lots of concern. Even more so when it was announced that it would be a straight to Prime Video streaming made some think it just wasn’t going to deliver, but after seeing this new trailer not sure it was the best idea. Could this new take on the classic bring the action fans hope for or will it get tossed out on its head?
Road House follows ex-UFC fighter Dalton who takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems. The film features a good supporting cast including Billy Magnussen, Lukas Gage, Jessica Williams, JD Pardo, Joaquim de Almeida, Arturo Castro, Daniela Melchoir and Connor McGregor who looks like he might kill it as one of the main bad guys.
Like many, I love the original Road House despite it being a bit cheesy and of course very dated at this point. Swayze brought something to the role that made it feel bigger and less cheesy than it actually was, and the cult hit it is today. This new take on the story and idea keeps the same tone intact while taking its own journey in a successful way that works way better than you might think. It is not a straight up remake which is a good thing and its not trying to reinvent the wheel either. Instead, it is just breathing some new life into the idea and unleashing the violence in the best way possible.
Gyllenhaal is fantastic in the role. He is kind of the same type of actor as Swayze who brings the acting chops with him to this kind of role while also getting in insanely good shape and really embodying the fighter role. He is
good in every way here bringing the drama, the swagger, the laughs and action to really kick some major ass.
The rest of the cast is fine, but the real scene stealer is MMA icon Connor McGregor. I am not a big fan of him in general, but he is so great and unhinged here he fits right in. He goes all in for his first big role and kills it in every way. He brings that energy needed to up the stakes and knowing his real-life skill as a fighter makes the action feel more real and believable. They have really choreographed some great action moments throughout making it a blast for any action fans.
While every fight is great, Gyllenhaal and McGregor get not one, but two awesome fight sequences that will have fans smiling ear to ear at the carnage of it all. This is a fun and violent film that has some easter eggs that pay tribute to the original while still bringing its own voice to the film and I loved it. I honestly believe that it not only works but has Swayze himself smiling down on Gyllenhaal gladly passing the torch to his once co-star.
Decide for yourself and check out Road House streaming now on Prime Video.
