Review of Road House (1989) by Josh G — 08 Aug 2008

REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.

I don't know what to say about Road House.

When I was watching the movie, I was entirely inside of its world. Still, the strange dialogue and completely random scene of Swayze doing yoga on the lawn were jarring.

Road House is the story of super-cool, ultra-tough Dalton -- the best bouncer in the biz, and just the man who can clean up the trash at the Double Deuce. Dalton, we find, has a degree in philosophy... although what purpose that serves, I am unsure. Just so that he is an enigma? He also cannot feel pain. Of course, neither can any of the other people in the movie, which explains why almost everybody can be beaten senseless and still jump up growling.

There's a whole thing about a man named Brad Wesley who kind of owns the town and wants to keep the Double Deuce full of rowdy rednecks because.. um.. it will.. help him make more money? Either way, it's just an excuse for more explosions and ass-whoopings. Ultra-suave Dalton has to try as hard as he can not to rip out anybody's throat, but he's just so damn good at fighting that it's hard for him to do.

There is also a love interest whose role in the film is simply that: love interest. What I mean is that she doesn't add anything to the film, really, doesn't do much to change Dalton's demeanor. All she does in the movie is have sex with him.

Sam Elliott (the white Morgan Freeman) also appears as Dalton's mentor and friend, although once again, his purpose isn't really clear. Rather than pressing Dalton into becoming a better person, he suggests running away. Mostly he's just there because it's freakin' awesome to see Sam Elliott fighting with Patrick Swayze in a barroom.

But the ultimate moral of the story, which is obvious from the beginning, is that pain don't hurt -- and yet violence is still the answer to all of life's problems. Seriously, what is the point of introducing the philosophy degree if we're going to end on a big, bloody free-for-all?

All that said, it's a very fun movie which will probably make you laugh. I guess it's a pretty popular line, but I honestly almost did a spit-take when I heard one of Wesley's goons snarl into Dalton's ear, "I used to fuck guys like you in prison.".

The whole movie is ridiculous and simple and over-the-top (everything that gets set on fire explodes magnificently). I enjoyed it.