As a movie buff (my collection is pretty avid) and a journalist who has covered mixed martial arts for nearly 20 years, I was particularly interested in director Doug Liman's new film Road House.
If I had to sum up this movie in one word, I'd say it's a beautifully shot, sometimes fun action movie that can be enjoyable if broken up properly. This movie is a remake of Patrick Swayze's classic.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays Dalton, and Roadhouse also stars former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor in his film debut. McGregor is the most terrifying of villains, a killing machine named Knox.
He plays the same role as Marshall R. Teague. In the original version, Teague played Jimmy, Swayze's most dangerous enemy. It takes a while for McGregor to make his first appearance, but once he does, he becomes perhaps the most memorable character.
Like the film's protagonist, Knox is an over-the-top humorous, almost superhuman figure whose exploits will always make you reevaluate the hurdles of feasibility in this world set in the Florida Keys. The story follows a similar path to the original, but Gyllenhaal's character is a former mixed martial artist with a checkered past. Swayze's version of Dalton was a fighter, but the UFC didn't exist in 1989.
The UFC interpolation is pieced together through flashback scenes featuring famed Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer, official UFC cutmen, and main card vibes that would make the EA UFC 5 presentation team blush.
Most of the fight scenes lacked a strong MMA vibe, which was a bit disappointing. It felt like a waste not to hit fans in the head with as many single leg takedowns, 12-6 elbows, wheel kicks, and superman punches as possible.
That being said, the fight scenes in this movie will pretty much quench the thirst of any MMA fan looking for recognition at some point in the two-hour movie. You'll see it and appreciate it. That said, if you're a pure MMA fan expecting a reference to the UFC, you'll be disappointed.
Visually, Amazon Prime's UHD version was beautiful. Multiple scenes could double as Corona commercials, with spectacular angles taking you into the intensity of some of the story's more shocking moments.
Whether you enjoy remade stories or not, this is an element that just about everyone should understand. Gyllenhaal shines in his interpretation of the iconic Dalton character. He plays a different role than Swayze, but it's not the same as Swayze.
He's ripped, which makes him believable as a tough guy and former mixed martial artist, but still exudes Academy Award-nominated timing and presence. McGregor is solid in his film debut.
Some critics will say that Knox's character is a version of the man seen on social media, a master promoter who has become the biggest draw in MMA history. There's some truth to that notion, but McGregor has an undeniable presence when he's in the Octagon or behind the microphone at a press conference.
When he's on screen, there's a feeling that someone important or noteworthy is acting. With more experience, a more deeply fleshed out story, and better dialogue, McGregor could deliver a performance far beyond what he delivered as Knox.
McGregor vividly delivered the best line of the movie: me too. “
Unfortunately, Roadhouse's biggest failing lies in its story progression.
At some point around the middle of the movie, when it seems like we should learn a little more about the important characters, it feels like we're in wrap-up mode. The dialogue becomes cheap and the concept of content becomes an afterthought.
It makes you adjust your expectations, but unfortunately in this case that means lowering your expectations. This dialogue, especially with McGregor and the other villains, leaves something to be desired. In some cases, it resembles an animated superhero story more than an action movie.
As it stands, I know enough about the original, McGregor, Gyllenhaal, and some MMA concepts to keep me entertained, but I still wasn't impressed. I would give it a 6 out of 10.
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