Road House (2024)

 

Road House is the 2024 reimagining of the 1989 film of the same name starring Jake Gyllenhaal who steps into Patrick Swayze's shoes as Dalton, now an ex-UFC fighter who takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys bar. Paradise quickly turns sour as he uncovers a seedy underbelly and clashes with the local thugs.

While predictable, the narrative provided a decent framework for the film's core elements, redemption and the importance of friendships and community. Throwing punches both old and new, this film offered a stylish but uneven experience. The film did manage to weave in some nostalgic elements such as borrowed lines and themes from the original to create a sense of familiarity for fans, but unfortunately they don't quite present a unique or clever narrative. 

The casting boasted a couple of bright spots. The inclusion of a diverse cast is a welcome update to the original film. Gyllenhaal did a decent job in the starring role as a man who was innately good but struggled with darkness in his past. Jessica Williams, who I recognized as Eulalie 'Lally' Hicks from Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, was a pleasant sight as Frankie. She was a strong and independent force as the owner of the Road House, giving a lot of confident and range. Arturo Castro shined as Moe, a biker with wit, providing much-needed comedic relief. On the other end of the spectrum, Conor McGregor's acting debut, particularly his "intense face" and exaggerated walk, were a painful miss that bordered on comedic unintentionally.

The fight choreography was undeniably more impressive than the 1989 original. The film delivered crisp, creative battles that were a thrill to watch, even if they occasionally strayed into unrealistic territory with their Fast & Furious-esque stunts. Additionally, the use of a first-person video game style cinematography during some fight scenes was an interesting choice, momentarily placing the viewer right in the middle of the action.

Overall, Road House was a mixed bag. While it captured some of the original film's charm and impressive action sequences, the script and some acting choices left much to be desired.