Summary

Critics have mixed feelings about the
Road House
remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal, with some praising his performance and others criticizing the script.
Despite some negative feedback, many reviewers found the movie entertaining, with plenty of action-packed fight scenes and unexpected humor.

Road House
is set to premiere on Prime Video on March 21, offering a modern take on the classic tale of a heroic bouncer protecting those around him.

The reviews for Road House are finally here. The original 1989 movie starred Patrick Swayze as a heroic bouncer working to protect the people around him. Decades after its release, Jake Gyllenhaal is taking over the role for a modern remake of the story. Despite a few Road House controversies with its theatrical and streaming dispute and A.I. allegations, the movie is expected to be released exclusively on Prime Video on March 21.

After its March 8 premiere at South by Southwest, critics have finally seen the long-awaited retelling. While mostly positive, the Road House reviews are somewhat mixed. Some critics rank it among Jake Gyllenhaal’s best movies, but Collider’s Matt Donato complains that “You might be wondering, ‘How could a movie like Road House — that’s just about fighters trading blows — feel computer generated?’ That’s a great question!” IndieWire’s Christian Zilko, however, believes that “All in all, this Road House is a fitting update to its predecessor’s legacy.”

Everything Critics Are Saying About Road House
The Road House remake delivers on the punches and Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance.

Most of the Road House reviews have been favorable towards the remake. Empire’s Boyd Hilton praises the movie’s aesthetic, which also dives into Gyllenhaal’s portrayal. Praise for Gyllenhaal has been fairly common, but Hilton states that “More impressive than his sculpted body, Gyllenhaal manages to find nuance in what is, on paper, a fairly standard, testosterone-fuelled figure.” Variety’s Owen Gleiberman even says, “Who would have thought that the ultimate expression of Jake Gyllenhaal’s heart would be his ability to punch this hard?”

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Deadline’s Valerie Complex was more critical, arguing that the remake is held back by a “script that never digs deep enough for the audience to fully explore or exploit the depth of Dalton’s inner turmoil.” SlashFilm’s Jacob Hall has a similarly negative take, saying that “Road House feels like a first draft.” He continues that “Its most charged touches — yes, the dreaded politics inherent in the story — feel woefully abandoned.”

Road House Remake Cast Characters Jake Gyllenhaal Elwood Dalton Daniela Melchior Ellie Billy Magnussen Ben Brandt Jessica Williams Frankie Lukas Gage Billy Darren Barnet Sam Conor McGregor Knox

The Road House remake still pleased TheGuardian’s Adrian Horton, who says, “You come to the Road House for a good time and some knuckle-cracking fights, and on that front, this film delivers.” The Hollywood Reporter’s Lovia Gyarkye agrees: “When Road House finds its own story, the film really takes off.” The Wrap’s Matthew Creith argues that “Road House is a mixed bag of blockbuster punches and quirky set pieces that give way to hyper-masculinity in the modern world.” Based on these reviews, it seems that Jake Gyllenhaal’s rendition may just be impressive enough to meet the standards of the original 1989 movie.

Source: Various (see above)

Road House (2024) Road House is a remake of the original 1989 film, which followed protagonist Dalton, a Ph.D. educated bouncer at the roughest bar in the south known as the Double Deuce. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Dalton, with two major changes including Dalton being a retired UFC fighter and the bar locale being in the Florida Keys.Director Doug Liman Release Date March 21, 2024 Studio(s) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , Silver Pictures Distributor(s) Prime Video Writers Anthony Bagarozzi , Charles Mondry , David Lee Henry Cast Jake Gyllenhaal , Daniela Melchior , Billy Magnussen , Jessica Williams , Joaquim De Almeida , Conor McGregor , Lukas Gage , Arturo Castro , B.K. Cannon , Beau Knapp , Darren Barnet , Dominique Columbus , Bob Menery

Key Release Dates