Road House (1989)

Known to be the best bouncer in the business James Dalton (Patrick Swayze) is hired to clean up the Double Deuce bar in Jasper, Missouri. 

Dalton is a complicated man. Haunted by the memory of killing a man in self defence, possessing a degree in philosophy and an expert fighter. He rents a room in a barn with no TV and spends his free time smoking endlessly and practicing Tai Chi. Having taken on the role of “Cooler” at the Double Deuce he proceeds to fire the staff that are making matters worse. Those skimming from the till, dealing drugs and hitting on the clientele are instantly fired. He then begins to train those he keeps on whilst the owner renovates the bar (at remarkable speed) around them. 

However there are complications. Local crime lord Brad Wesley (Ben Gazzara) is unhappy that his nephew has been sacked from working there and proceeds to cause disruption with his “heavy” goons and by obstructing business. Wesley has a grip over the entire town and his protection racket has all local businessman living in fear of him. 

After one altercation with Wesley’s crew Dalton heads over to the local hospital where he meets Dr. Elizabeth Clay (Kelly Lynch) and promptly strikes up a relationship with her. And it is her and his old friend Wade Garrett (Sam Elliott) that Wesley uses against him as leverage. There is also some light relief provided by Dalton’s purchase of a cheap car for work as it continuously gets vandalised. 

Whilst I might be overstating the reaction to my Road House remake review as “outraged” I did receive quite a few remarks that they could not believe I had not seen the original film and that there was no way that the remake was better! So here we are. Another gap in my film knowledge is filled and I can safely say that I would consider the remake of Road House to be on a par with this original. So before you smash whatever device you are reading this on in further outrage please let me explain. 

Both films have a certain connective tissue that runs through them. An accomplished fighter troubled by the regret of killing someone is hired to clean up a bar that is terrorised by a local crime lord. There is a doctor for them to fall in love with and a philosophical nature, “nobody wins a fight”. 

They are also inherently light weight as far as story goes, essentially vehicles for genre action movies. And each film leans into the trends of its time. 1989 Road House features a lot of nudity, a lot of big hair, a ridiculous amount of smoking and some truly insane explosions given what is on fire. None of this would work in 2024 so instead it features much brighter and more attractive locales, a more outgoing and likeable lead and jettisons the “old friend” in favour of the insane nemesis. 

As far as fights go the original has more but the remake has better choreographed and filmed pugilistic performances. The love interest plot is similar whilst the downtrodden middle aged businessmen of the original are replaced with a more diverse range of characters in the remake. 

My point is that both films do the same things in different ways. Whether your preference is an 1980’s cult classic or a 2020’s slick remake may simply be down to when you grew up or if you find Swayze or Gyllenhaal a more charismatic “troubled soul”. Both have copious flaws and both can be lots of fun if watched in the right frame of mind. 

You can see my other Road House review here: Road House (2024)