Originally released in 1989, Road House became a beloved Action flick featuring an all star cast led by Patrick Swayze, but also featuring Ben Gazzara, Kelly Lynch, and Sam Elliott. Spawning the 2006 direct-to-video sequel, Road House 2, now the original cult classic becomes the latest to get a remake.
Released by Amazon MGM Studios via Prime Video on March 21, 2024, Road House is produced by Joel Silver (who produced the original), directed by Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow 2014, American Made 2017), and features a screenplay written by a team of writers (Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry), who based the new plot on the original script from David Lee Henry. Furthermore, the cast in the new feature includes Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko 2001, Brokeback Mountain 2005) as Dalton, UFC Champion Conor McGregor as Knox (in his first feature film), plus an appearance by Singer Post Malone as Carter.
Despite the new characters, Dalton’s background, location, and the story taking place in modern times, the basic premise remains the same as the original Road House – an otherwise righteous man and professional fighter, running from his past, finds redemption trying to fix a town overrun by a corrupt man.
In this case, a former UFC middleweight Dalton Ellis (Gyllenhaal) is a man carrying a ton of baggage after his part in the accidental death of a friend, and subsequent downfall of his once successful career. Pondering the meaning to his life, Dalton meets Fiona (Jessica Williams: Love Life series, Shrinking series) from the Florida Keys who hires him as a ‘cooler.’ Another term for a bouncer who removes troubled people from premises, Fiona brings him on to look after her bar called the Road House for a three month period after which he will move on.
Initially Dalton enjoys the work and training the other bouncers, however, his attempts at cleaning up the bar results in angering Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen: Spy Kids: Armageddon 2023, Lift 2024); a local son of an imprisoned bad guy who does not take Dalton’s interference lightly. As a result, Brandt sends his best men after Dalton, but he beats them all up; although he is considerate enough to drop them off at the hospital. It is here he meets a possible love interest, Ellie (Daniela Melchior: The Suicide Squad 2021, Fast X 2023), with ties to the local corrupt Sheriff ‘Big Dick’ (Joaquim de Almeida: Desperado 1995, Fast Five 2011). This in mind, when Brandt’s efforts fail, his father employs the absolutely crazy, deadly Knox (Conor McGregor) to stop Dalton. In the end, Dalton must embrace his dark side to survive the real reason Fiona employed him.
Though some have criticized the use of CGI in the fight scenes of this modern take on Road House, the notoriously critical Rotten Tomatoes gave it a score of 63%; which is nearly twice the original (41%) received.. despite its cult following. Furthermore, MMA Fighter Conor McGregor, in his first film, for some touts as a Arnold Schwarzenegger replacement in Action movies; even though McGregor did apparently struggle with filming and is unsure if he will appear in anymore. Nonetheless, he certainly provides a lot of entertainment and his presence begs you to ask for more. This considered, Gyllenhaal holds his own against McGregor; all with the audience feeling every punch and kick intercepted.
So, for every terrible remake out there, comes a solid, entertaining re-imagined homage like 2024’s Road House. That is why Cryptic Rock gives the new Road House 4 out of 5 stars.
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