80s remake coming to Prime Video tomorrow scores higher than ‘cult classic’ original
Amazon Prime Video is set to bring back a beloved classic from the 80s, Road House.
The original Road House was a 1989 American action drama film starring Patrick Swayze, Ben Gazzara, and Kelly Lynch.
Despite its relatively lukewarm reception from critics, a modest 41% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film went on to develop a cult-classic-like reputation among audiences due to its cheesy action and acting - a popular theme of 80s movies.
Now, a 2024 remake is coming exclusively to Amazon's streaming services. Expected to reach our screens on March 21st, this remake was directed by Doug Liman and stars the talented Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role.
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Moreover, the new version boasts a more respectable 67% at its time of writing.
The plot takes a spin retelling the narrative around the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Gyllenhaal's character, Elwood Dalton the same character that Swayze portrayed, is an ex-UFC fighter now turned drifter, tasked with the role of a new bouncer to restore order in a rowdy establishment.
The remake includes Conor McGregor in his acting debut portraying a charismatically and semi-psychotic villain, as well as rapper Post Malone.
Unlike the original 80s movie that was set in a Missouri dive bar, the remake shifts its settings to a bar in Florida Keys.
The cast of the remake has been praised for their onscreen chemistry, and the jokes they deliver feel fresh and relevant to the genre. Whilst the 80s version was filled with cheesy one-liners, the remake brings updates to the movie whilst staying true to the original story.
And of course, McGregor's background as a real-life martial artist adds an authentic layer to the movie, rather than the family-friendly approach of the original.
Reviews of the remake are already praising the movie.
One Rotten Tomatoes score reads: 'It has terrific action; it's goofy, corny, and often hilarious... It perfectly encapsulates the feel of the white-knuckle, bare-fisted action exploitation flicks of the 70s and 80s, sporting two killer over-the-top performances from Gyllenhaal McGreggor.'
Another comment read: 'Doug Liman’s “Road House” captures the spirit of the 1989 version while delivering plenty of bare-knuckle thrills, mindless escapism, and one cranked up portrayal from Conor McGregor who is having the time of his live playing the villain.'