Road House (2024)

Road House (2024). 2h 1m | R

“I think I may have just stumbled upon my next u0026quot;comfy action movieu0026quot;. A reimagining of the 1989 film starring Patrick Swayze, this has everything I enjoy in actioners right from a ludicrous plot, a bricky Jake Gyllenhall, loads of testosterone, a beachside setting, soul + rock nu0026#39; roll laced soundtrack, and most importantly, some well-staged action (except when thereu0026#39;s forced CG or janky edits). Gyllenhaal plays Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter looking for trouble (read: fist fights) wherever he goes, in the hopes of getting paid for it. Apart from looking like a million bucks, Road House isnu0026#39;t a film that pushes the performer in him. It just lets the guy smile, smirk, wisecrack, and punch his way to the ending. To no surprise, the film even gets the official UFC endorsement.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDoug Liman hasnu0026#39;t made anything this fun (or self-aware) since American Made. The night shots are full of yellows and blues, and for a film with this premise, it fits the bill alright. Conor McGregor, as youu0026#39;d expect, plays a beefy, madcap baddie and his showdowns with Jake are oddly satisfying (ft. The riffs from Rina Sawayamau0026#39;s version of Enter Sandman). The leading ladies (Daniela Melchior and Jessica Williams) are reduced to token roles, with not much texture – Hannah Love Lanier, in a cute supporting role, trumps the rest. In fact, thatu0026#39;s the case with nearly everyone in the film as the stylization takes precedence over plot and characters. Arturo Castro, as a henchman with a funny bone, was good. The film is about 15 minutes too long, and most of the unnecessary scenes involve either the cops or Billy Magnussen on a yacht.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eP. S. For a streaming release, this features some finely executed moments .. best enjoyed in a theater full of people.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eP. P. S. I so wanted a Post Malone v. Jake Gyllenhaal fight, but they robbed us of it.”