By Mr. Will Wong
If you’ve seen the 1989 original cult classic on which Doug Liman‘s ROAD HOUSE is based upon, you will come to love the brute action and laughs in this remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal. It is pure, mindless fun.
Dalton is an ex-UFC fighter who is trying to escape his past and finds himself in the Glass Keys at a rough and tumble bar. He takes on a job as bouncer they rather need the help. Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen) is out to carry-out his criminal father’s work, trying to oust Frankie (Jessica Williams) so that they fully can control the land. The violence escalates as Ben employs every weapon and tactic possible, including hiring the menacing Knox (UFC champ Conor McGregor). Dalton gets even more invested in the locals, falling for Ellie (Daniela Melchior), fighting for more than just his life.
Jake Gyllenhaal nearly carries the entire weight of this Film on his own, approaching the role with a quiet steadiness. He executes the demanding fight choreography with great aplomb, stepping right up to the challenge to deliver pure thrills. Because he plays Dalton with such coolness, we wonder if this will be his downfall. This is a role that stands out among Gyllenhaal‘s accomplished body… em.. of work.
Where things take a backseat however, is that some of the storylines of supporting characters who give Dalton a reason to fight, feel under-developed. We have a bit of tough time connecting the dots when not enough relationship building is worked-in, particularly with his love interest Ellie and his boss Frankie.
McGregor has fun with the absurdity of his role, in this his big screen debut and is put to work right away with some taxing action sequences, playing a hyberbolized alter-ego of himself in the ring.
In ways, it is a shame that this won’t be seen on the big screen where it deserves to be seen, but lucky for Prime Video subscribers, it hits home figuratively and literally.
Prime Video Canada release ROAD HOUSE March 21, 2024.
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