Ex-UFC fighter Dalton takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.
Chuck says:
Predictable “Road House” Still Proves Fun
Early on in Doug Liman’s “Road House,” a character says of ex-UFC fighter Dalton’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) mission to chase off a gang of miscreants from the titular establishment, “That sounds like a western to me.” Truer words were never spoken as this update of the Patrick Swayze cult favorite plays like a take-off of George Stevens’ classic oater “Shane.” And while the film doesn’t feature a small pre-teen boy yelling the hero’s name as he rides off to parts unknown, there are too many similarities to ignore.
Dalton has no six shooters on his hips – he doesn’t need them as his hands are lethal weapons, something he learned when he killed a fellow MMA fighter during a match. Running from his past while toting around a death wish, he accepts the above-mentioned job from Frankie (Jessica Williams), the bar’s owner. Seems poor little rich boy Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen) has been sending his henchmen to beat up the patrons and cause general mayhem at the watering hole again and again. The hope is this will scare off customers and force Frankie to sell the establishment to her nemesis, who plans to build a resort on the property.
Gyllenhaal’s soft-spoken, sardonic approach to Dalton holds the film together, the actor lacing a subtle sense of irony in his line readings that lets us know he’s in on the joke. Convincing whether cracking skulls or wisecracks, the fun he’s having proves infectious. In his film debut, Conor McGregor as Dalton’s counterpart Knox brings the same degree of intensity he repeatedly brought to the steel cage during his days as a UFC champion. His antagonistic charisma plays well on the screen, and he could have a long career playing tough guy roles, if he chooses.
Liman’s use of small digital cameras, sometimes attached to the actors, puts the viewer in the middle of the mayhem, which occurs with watch-setting frequency. This coupled with the director’s constantly roving handheld camera provide these sequences with a sense of visceral immediacy, it’s immersive nature a bit bracing at times. However, it captures the brutality of and raises the stakes in this world of machismo and violence.
A shift in tone during the third act is off-putting, as Dalton, pushed too far, allows his dark side to emerge. A callous disregard and at times satisfaction over the damage he inflicts replaces the good-natured fisticuffs that precede them. This is a disturbing misstep that leaves a sour taste that is only barely cleansed with a too-neat finale. Still and all, this is far from art house cinema. Liman knows his audience and his “Road House” delivers the sort of slick action cinema, genre fans and good ole boys crave.
3 Stars
Pam says:
I somehow missed the original, but perhaps that is a good thing as I saw “Road House” through fresh eyes. This newest rendition stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Dalton, a UFC fighter whose sordid past is something he is attempting to bury, but yet the images haunt him. Running from his memories, he comes to a crossroads in his life; end it or take an offer to “clean up” the thugs ruining a bar, The Road House, in Florida, run by Frankie (Jessica Williams). Barely escaping the on-coming train, he heads toward the rough and tough bar by the sea to take on the position of Lead Bouncer.
“Road House” doesn’t take itself too seriously. In fact, the writers, director and Gyllenhaal are having a lot of fun with it as it makes fun of the actions and the characters within. The high action scenes interspersed between introducing us to more “meaningful” characters balance the story and even though it’s incredibly predictable, it’s loads of fun. From Frankie and her background and the young girl, Charlie (Hannah Lanier), and her father who run a bookstore to the stereotypical thugs like Ben Brandt (Billy Magnusson) and Knox (Conor MacGregor), these people are over-the-top but fit the role and the story that tries to mimic a Western, admittedly so.
I found myself laughing at some of the one-liners and situations as well as being mesmerized by the choreography of Gyllenhaal and his arch nemesis’s henchmen attacking him and the bar he was hired to protect. Of course, Williams adds her signature comedic flare to Frankie which endears us to her and her goal of saving the family bar. Did I mention the stunts? These are jaw-dropping feats with spectacular explosions and maneuvers on water with various boats.
Don’t expect anything more than a simple story told well filled with great stunts, many laughs, and impressive cinematography so tight that we almost feel a few blows to the head. Have fun!
3 Stars
