Road House

A modern take on Road House could have happened a decade ago, when then-MMA champion Ronda Rousey was at her commercial peak, seeking on-screen ventures elsewhere. But it feels right that the long road to a reimagining of the 80s classic has culminated in this version, which benefits from an alignment of all of its stars.

Firstly, there’s Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role, who has proven to be one of the most appealing actors over the years and can benefit from a personal association to original star Patrick Swayze, whom he acted next to in Donnie Darko. The sincerity of paying tribute to his late colleague is evident in a committed performance that goes beyond staying in great shape: he channels the right amount of charm and pathos in his portrayal of nomadic drifter Dalton.

Then there’s megastar athlete Conor McGregor who makes his acting debut in hilarious and memorable fashion, turning up as the ultimate mercenary hunting for Dalton after a standoff topples a domino in a criminal underworld, spearheaded by aggressive business magnate Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen). The former UFC champion dials things up to 11, setting the screen ablaze at a point where the film’s pace starts to sag. It’s Road House’s biggest issue; it feels too long because of director Doug Liman’s tendency to dwell on scenes instead of maintaining a propulsive quality that would have served the film best.

Anyway, the UFC itself is present in flashbacks, showcasing Dalton’s fall from grace after once challenging for a championship against a former friend. There’s something unfortunately authentic in this bridge between past and present, depicting how MMA fighters are underpaid relative to the revenue of their organisations, and that having to take a spell to oversee a random roadhouse could very well be the legacy of some of today’s combatants.

All that to say, Road House is a highly entertaining retelling of a classic that maintains just enough gravitas to ground its otherwise appropriately over-the-top action and humour. The combat sequences are a thrill, as Garrett Warren and Steve Brown’s refined choreography is layered with crunching sound effects for brutally fun thrills. It’s exactly the movie that Amazon should be making, serving as the perfect way to hold fans of Reacher, Jack Ryan and The Terminal List over until their next outings.

Musanna Ahmed

Road House is released on Prime Video on 21^st March 2024.

Watch the trailer for Road House here: