Dalton, played by Patrick Swayze, is a highly skilled bouncer. He prefers to handle any trouble professionally and quietly, but sometimes, he must use his fists and kicks to defend himself. One night, Dalton gets into a fight in a club and ends up getting wounded by a knife. Luckily, he can protect himself. After the incident, Frank Tilghman (Kevin Tighe), the owner of the Double Deuce club, approaches Dalton. Double Deuce has seen better days. Once, it was a great club, but now it is filled with unruly customers and violence, and Frank is hoping that Dalton can help transform it. Frank explains to Dalton the work conditions, including financial compensation for any injuries that may occur while on duty. Dalton agrees to Frank’s terms.
Upon arriving in town, Dalton decides to visit the Double Deuce bar. However, he soon realises that the place requires serious work to get it back on track. Some staff members are secretly dealing drugs, while others are stealing from the cash registers. Dalton takes on the challenge and begins cleaning out the business and teaching the staff how to handle violent situations. While working hard to restore the Double Deuce, Dalton also starts a relationship with a local woman, Doc (Kelly Lynch). Unfortunately, his actions attract the attention of Brad Wesley (Ben Gazzara), an influential figure who controls the community and seeks to increase his wealth by any means necessary. Can Dalton save the Double Deuce and survive a significant fight against Wesley- a challenge more incredible than anything he has ever faced?
Road House is an action movie directed by Rowdy Herrington, who is well known for his work in films like Striking Distance, Jack’s Back and A Murder of Crows. The movie has many memorable yet cheesy one-liners and fistfights that will leave you shocked or laughing out loud. Patrick Swayze plays Dalton as a likeable character who is calm, relaxed, handsome and capable of getting himself out of trouble in the best way possible, even if it means throwing a few fists or dishing out a roundhouse. The storyline is simple but challenging enough to keep things interesting as Dalton significantly changes the club to bring about vital improvements.
While Road House is an enjoyable movie that requires little effort to appreciate, it struggles with some issues. The romance between the main character, Dalton, and Doc feels forced, and Kelly Lynch’s performance is not always convincing. The film’s villain, played by Ben Gazzara, is also over-the-top and lacks credibility as a worthy opponent for Dalton. While the pacing is suitable for most of the film, the first and second acts are the strongest, while the third act tries too hard to be dramatic. The ending feels like a drastic change that doesn’t improve the movie.
I must admit that Road House is a movie that can only be enjoyed as a guilty pleasure while munching popcorn. While the film is filled with punches and round kicks, providing mindless entertainment, and Patrick Swayze’s performance is surprisingly enjoyable, his playful charisma and charm don’t cover some weaknesses. The main weakness lies in the villain, who is too outrageous and imposing, and the third act changes tone dramatically, almost taking away from the fun and entertainment offered in the first and second acts. Despite the shortcomings, the corny one-liners make it a classic, and as an action-packed film, it performs flawlessly.
Road House (1989) is Now Available on Blu-ray thanks to Via Vision Entertainment!
7.3/10
3rd March 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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