Kevin Lazzari | Special to the Fitzhugh
There are a few movies that bomb at the box office, and “Road House” falls into that category. It was even nominated for five Raspberry Awards. Luckily, it did not win any Razzies, because “Road House” is one of my favorite movies. It may not have had the financial success that it wanted at theaters, but when it was released to home video, it hit cult status. It was marketed wrong for the big screen because of a targeted audience. The producers thought they could bill the film as a light comedy. Granted, there are a few comedic moments, but it really is an action flick.
Sam Elliot has stated that “Road House” is the movie that he is most remembered for. He had an amazing part, and no one can say he is not the definition of a cowboy. It should be noted that the film is a Patrick Swayze film, and Elliot is a secondary character. Swayze’s martial arts background dominates the screen, and he suffered two broken ribs and a busted knee while filming. Yes, Elliot and Swayze did their own stunts making the film authentic in every possible way.
Swayze plays a cooler in what is known in the bar industry, as the boss of a crew of bouncers. There is a line that goes, “I thought you would be bigger” that becomes a gag line throughout the movie. Swayze does not fit the bouncer profile, but that perspective changes when he starts to fight. There is a scene where Dalton’s character voices the three rules of being a bouncer. Those rules changed things for bouncers around the world, and became more like golden rules. If you have worked as a bouncer, you know exactly what those rules are.
If you want to watch an action flick in a fictionalized town called Jasper, this is the movie for you.
Kevin Lazzari, owner of Video Stop, is reviewing movies for the Fitzhugh. “Road House” (1989) is available on DVD, Blu-ray and for digital streaming and download.
