Road House (2024)

Dir: Doug LIman

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, Joaquim de Almeida, Austin Post, Connor McGregor

This modern update of the cult classic recaptures the brawn over brains appeal over the original, resulting in an incredibly dumb but surprisingly fun action flick.

35 years ago, audiences were treated to the brutal and bone-crunching martial arts spectacle that was Road House. The film was instantly labelled as ‘white-collar trash’ by critics who deemed it as painfully cheesy as it was violent. The film would even go onto receive five nominations as the 1990 Golden Raspberry Awards, including one for ‘worst actor’ for leading heartthrob Patrick Swayze. Swayze was fresh from his success on Dirty Dancing (1987) when he agreed to star in ‘Road House’, in what was seen as a drastic career move for the actor. Having won the heart of audiences, particularly the female demographic, a couple years prior, critics and audiences failed to accept Swayze as an action hero. While the film went down like a lead balloon with critics upon release, it has since gone onto to be a cult classic and serves as another showcase of Swayze’s physicality and charisma.

There had been plenty of talk surrounding a ‘Road House’ reboot for a number of years, with former WWE and MMA star Ronda Rousey attached to star at one point. The project was then put on hold until 2021 when it was handed to Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, with Jake Gyllenhaal cast as the lead. Liman’s ‘Road House’ had its world premiere at South by Southwest on the 8th March 2024, and was released in the United States and UK via streaming on Prime Video, a decision criticised by Liman who had pushed for a wide theatrical release.

Loosely based on the 1989 original ‘Road House’ stars an insanely buff Gyllenhaal as drifter and former UFC fighter Elwood Dalton, who shares a surname with Swayze’s original protagonist, Jake Dalton. With his UFC career finished having killed an opponent in the ring, Dalton navigates the seedy world of underground bare-knuckle boxing in America’s Deep South. With his well established reputation, Dalton attracts the attention of Florida Keys bar owner Frankie (Jessica Williams), who is after a new bouncer to deal with her rowdy and violent clientele.

Initially reluctant, a redemption seeking Dalton accepts Frankie’s offer to head security at the titular Road House. The main cause of Frankie’s troubles lay with petulant nepo baby Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen), a bankrupt business developer who wishes to build a luxury resort on the spot currently occupied by the Road House. Having taken care of Brandt’s pathetic, biker gang lackies, Dalton kindly takes the injured cronies to the hospital, where he begins an unconvincing relationship with local doctor, Ellie (Daniela Melchior). With Dalton standing in his way of his desired real estate, Brandt hires psychopathic mafia enforcer Knox (Connor McGregor) to hunt him down.

Rather fittingly, much like the original movie, this modern update of ‘Road House‘ is a mess. Poorly executed with underwritten characters, questionable effects and a paper-thin narrative this classic action homage should not work – but it does. I am a fan of Swayze’s 1989 original movie, but consisting of largely cheesy dialogue and unconvincing fight choreography, it is hard to deny that it is far from perfect. I think Liman, Gyllenhaal et al have perfectly understood the brief here, as this remake perfectly captures the brawn over brains approach that ultimately garnered the original film cult status.

This is a film, like the original, that will no doubt split opinion. It could very easily be viewed as an overlong and visually uninspired action flick, purely built on testosterone. However, much like last year’s delightfully entertaining actioner Extraction 2, ‘Road House’ is adrenaline fuelled throwback to the ridiculously macho releases of the 80s and 90s, and I’m here for it. Are there problems with the film? Absolutely. Do I care? Absolutely not.

My biggest problem with ‘Road House’ is that for all its energy, humour and brawling, it does run out of steam at times due to it being 30 minutes too long. The lacklustre romantic subplot between Dalton and Ellie lacks the chemistry to be emotionally engaging, and only seems to serve as respite between the constant white-knuckle fighting that makes this and the original so entertaining. Just as the film appears to have burnt itself out however, it is quickly reignited by the introduction of Connor McGregor. It is evident McGregor is not an actor, purely capitalising on his MMA skills and in ring persona. Liman clearly told the Irishman to go as big as possible and McGregor obliges, chewing the scenery as he struts and smiles from scene to scene without a care in the world. It could be one of the worst acting performances I have ever seen, but much like several aspects of this film, it sort of works.

Whether ‘Road House’ is so bad-its-good or purely bad will be up for debate but it is not a safe movie by any means. Gyllenhaal may not be able to recapture Swayze’s charm but more than makes up for it with his physicality in this ridiculously dumb but fun remake.