The 1989 blockbuster “Road House” was something of a pastiche. It delivered the infamous thrills of a B-movie with production value on the big screen. Leading actor Patrick Swayze, playing the philosophizing simpleton, smirked with unwavering confidence, cracking his arms and jaws as the cars and buildings around him exploded really hard. The action was covered with a glossy studio varnish.
Some may subsequently argue that the remake of the film is meant to be a pastiche of a pastiche. However, as we move into the twenty first century, the concept of authenticity is increasingly devalued. And who needs that when the whole thing is directed by Doug Liman? After all, he’s the J. Robert Oppenheimer of crazy action scenes (“The Bourne Identity”, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, “Edge of Tomorrow”, to call a number of).
Taking on the role of Swayze, Jake Gyllenhaal plays skilled player-turned-goalie Elwood Dalton, who protects a gambling club situated on worthwhile real estate in the Florida Keys. At his biggest advantage, despite the lethal nature of his character, Gyllenhaal maintains a one-liner and joke approach. Instead of Swayze’s Zen musings, he asks us dry questions on whether his opponents have medical insurance before pummeling them and taking them to the hospital.
This film delivers the same experience as the first part, but with modern changes, similar to the villain played by Ultimate Fighting Championship star Conor McGregor, who’s first seen naked aside from his shoes and socks (so he can carry his phone). Despite being two hours long, the film moves as fast as a greased ferret on a Habitrail and delivers hallucinatory bursts of action towards an prolonged climax.
All this and a reasonably funny reference to “The Third Man.”
Road house
Rated R for violence and language. Duration: 2 hours 1 minute. Watch on Prime Video.
