It has been 35 years since Patrick Swayze starred in the original Road House film (1989). Many of you may be curious if this new rendering of it is an exact remake of the original. Well, the studio is classifying the new Road House film as a “reimagining of the 80's cult classic." I really have to agree with them; the only true thing that is the same between the two films is the name of the main character, Dalton. Don't get me wrong, the premise is basically the same, but the story, the location, and even the main character's background are completely different.
Road House is an action film directed by Doug Liman from a screenplay written by Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry. The cast includes: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Williams, Hannah Love Lanier, Kevin Carroll, Daniela Melchior, and Billy Magnussen. There are a couple of cast surprises too.
Ok, let's get to it.
Even though Road House is streaming on Prime, I was fortunate enough to watch it in a theater on the big screen. I am so glad I did! I loved seeing all the action in a theater setting, but I know I will enjoy it just as much when I watch it again on my home television.
Furthermore, you may be wondering why the movie went straight to Prime. Jake Gyllenhaal explains it this way: while he enjoys watching movies on the big screen, he feels that streaming services can be a good platform for movies that entertain and/or move audiences emotionally.
“I’ve also sat watching a film on my computer, or in different places, and been so profoundly moved. If the job of a story is to move people, I have been moved in both forms,” Gyllenhaal said. “I’m a deep lover of cinema and the theatrical release, but I also really embrace the streaming world.”
Action is at the core of this reimagining, and it starts off that way right from the beginning. Although it does not have scene after scene of heart-stopping action, there are a lot of great action scenes throughout the film, some of which are cringe-worthy.
Equally important, the writers made me care about the characters. We also get to know something about the characters, especially the main ones. For example, we get to understand why Dalton is in the place in life he is in right now. We meet a brave young lady with a lot of personality. We meet the owner of the Roadhouse who shares the history of it and her reason for wanting to save it. A lot of films just leave a big question mark as to who is who and what they are all about, but they do a good job of letting us "in." While the authors did a good job of letting us know the characters, there was one detail that made me go, hmm, and did not fit with the narrative of the character. I am not going to disclose it, of course, because I don't spoil things, but let me know in the comments if you notice it too.
In addition, this paradise location will leave you wanting to go there for a vacation with its vast expanse of golden sand, kissed by the warm sun and caressed by gentle waves. While the location city is fictional, the location state, as it were, is a very real place. Let me know in the comments if it leaves you wanting to hop on a plane and go there right now!
There was great humor sprinkled amongst all the butt-kicking action. Honestly, the action helps relieve the stress of the blood and violence in some of the action scenes. Some of which will definitely make you wince.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the music—music is the language of the soul!
“Music speaks the language of the soul, penetrating into the past and resonating into the future, unearthing pain and tenderness and sorrow and joy, reminding us of our infinite fragility and extraordinary strength, reigniting our dreams and passions once again to remind us of who we are meant to be.”
L.R. Knost
I guess my expectation was one band, a house band, that would play in all the bar scenes in the film. To my surprise, there are at least six different bands that perform in this movie—it was tremendous! If you've read some of my other reviews, then you wouldn’t be surprised to know that I was dancing in my seat!
Lastly, as to the question of whether you should take your children to see this movie, I would say this: “Hell to the no." This movie has a lot of violence, some of it bloody. It is not appropriate for children. It is rated R for violence throughout, pervasive language, and some nudity.
I'm loving this revisitation of Road House. I, myself, can't wait to see it again! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Let me know in the comments if you did too.
I give it 5/5 "Charms."
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Just A Mom Who Loves Movies
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