Road House
release year: 1989
genre: action
viewing setting: home DVD, 11/12/04 and 2/7/03
synopsis: Dalton's the best bouncer in the business - but when he takes a job in a little town ruled by a corrupt boss and his goons, fists fly and blood flows.
impressions: This is the ultimate guy movie: violence and sex bound together by a plot heavy on machismo and revenge. Throw in some good music, the always-reliable themes of standing up for yourself and revenge, and a little monster truck destruction, and you end up with this movie full of bad-asses and the people they beat up. As I said, the basic idea is that a bouncer gets hired to clean up a club that, as it turns out, is being harassed by a white-collar bully. Since nobody will back down, the fighting escalates until the fatality level is reached. One criticism: when you're in the violence business and someone tries to kill you, you should go ahead and kill them first...because if you don't, they will probably come back and try to kill you (or people you care about) again.
things to watch for: Any fight scene (and there are plenty.)
acting: Patrick Swayze did pretty good as Dalton, famous bouncer who has a PhD in philosophy, knows martial arts, and only fights when forced to. however, the real bad-ass factor here belongs to Sam Elliot as Wade Garrett, Dalton's rough, Harley-riding old friend and teacher. Jeff Healey is good as the blind guitarist who knows Dalton from way back. Ben Gazzara is great as the ruthless, power-hungry head bad guy. Kelly Lynch is a good blonde-bombshell doctor but a poor supporter of a man's right to fight back.
the "hey, haven't I seen her somewhere else?" factor: Kathleen Wilhoite, who plays a waitress here, was the female DJ in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, part 2 with Dennis Hopper.
the "you wouldn't believe that was her" factor: Julie Michaels, who plays the bad guy's slutty girlfriend here, was the hot FBI agent in the opening scene of Jason Goes to Hell.
final word: The ultimate testosterone fest.
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