Review of Road House (1989) by Seth Y — 17 Aug 2013

A badass Patrick Swayze beating up guys in a bar. Yes, it's exactly as awesome as it sounds.

James Dalton (Swayze) is a professional bouncer working in New York City. He is approached by Frank Tilghman (Kevin Tighe), the owner of the Double Deuce bar in Jasper, Missouri. Looking to beef up security and clean up his bar, Tilghman convinces Dalton to come work for him. After being hired to keep the peace at the Double Deuce, Dalton realizes he has a lot of work ahead of him to clean up the rough-and-tough spot. Meanwhile, Brad Wesley (Ben Gazzara) is an extortionist and crime boss that runs nearly everything in the town of Jasper. Upset at Dalton for getting involved with his love interest, Wesley seeks to teach Dalton a lesson.

Road House is the type of movie that would have only worked in the 80s. It's cheesy and over the top, but that adds to its overall appeal. Patrick Swayze is one of the best and this is possibly my favorite performance from him. James Dalton is just a kick-ass character and it's an absolute blast watching him beat guys to a bloody pulp. The bar scenes are ridiculous and sleazy, which keeps things fun and interesting. In addition to Swayze, the supporting cast also works well, which includes the gorgeous Kelly Lynch. Ben Gazzara's performance as the "bad guy" is convincing and fun, which makes the climax very entertaining.

You don't go into a movie like Road House expecting some Academy Award winning script. You watch it and enjoy it for what it is. The fighting scenes are awesome and the plot is just downright fun, which makes this movie a complete blast. Road House is one of those films that has infinite replay value...it just has a great late-80s vibe. 4 stars.