Prime Video Movie of the Day: Road House is an action-packed remake of the ’80s cult classic
When the news from A Road house remake was announced, fans of the original film (including some from the Ny Breaking team) were less than happy. The ’80s film, starring Patrick Swayze, is one of those good/bad movies that attracts a very devoted following – and that following wasn’t keen on anyone stepping into Swayze’s shoes. But the remake turns out to be more than just a photocopy; as The Guardian says, it’s both rowdy and campy.
The 2024 version stars Jake Gyllenhall as Elwood Dalton, a bouncer with a dark past, and moves the setting from Missouri to the Florida Keys. There, Elwood makes his living doing amateur fights with the likes of Post Malone and eventually works at the titular roadhouse. And that’s where the action takes place.
What is Roadhouse about?
I love The Guardian’s review, which states that “The Road House attracts a disproportionate number of shady characters with hair-trigger rage, and employs a disproportionate number of good musicians to soundtrack late-night bar fights from behind a fence.” That’s the format for many fights, including some particularly impressive work from UFC champion Conor McGregor.
How much you enjoy Road house it really depends on what you expect. If you’re looking for a contemplative examination of the roots of male violence, this isn’t the film for you. But if you want something rich magazine calls “a total riot” where fists fly and guitars wail, you’ll have a great time: it’s “perfect for a super fun night out.”
Unlike the original, Road house is well aware of its own ridiculousness and revels in it: director Doug Liman is clearly having a great time with his incredibly choreographed mass brawls, as are the cast, and Jake Gyllenhall in particular is fantastic in what could easily have been a cardboard cutout of a role . As Empire says, “As cheesy as it may sound, this Dalton is truly a new kind of action hero, as caring and sensitive as he is ruthlessly violent when necessary.”