Jake Gyllenhaal Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Original Road House Star

Jake Gyllenhaal pays tribute to original Road House star Patrick Swayze in a heartfelt Instagram post. Gyllenhaal's own remake of Road House has stirred up some controversy as the film will skip theaters and head straight to streaming on Prime Video. Directed by Doug Liman, the movie follows Gyllenhaal's character, a struggling UFC fighter who takes on the role of a bouncer in a rowdy Florida Keys bar.

It has been 35 years since Swayze's memorable performance in the original Road House, and Gyllenhaal wanted to honor the late actor with a special message on social media. Check out the touching tribute below:

Instagram article posted by jakegyllenhaal

Gyllenhaal recalls his time acting with the legendary Patrick Swayze in the iconic movie Donnie Darko from 2001. Swayze played the role of the charismatic motivational speaker, Jim Cunningham.

Why Road House 2024 May Be Better Than The Overrated Original

roadhouse 1989 - Why Road House 2024 May Be Better Than The Overrated Original

Critics will have to wait until Road House 2024 premieres at SXSW on March 8 to give their opinions. This will be the moment when we find out if Gyllenhaal’s Elwood Dalton can live up to Swayze’s iconic role as James Dalton, the tough bouncer. Despite the original Road House achieving cult classic status today, it did not receive favorable reviews upon its initial release, evident in its 41% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This sets a low bar for the remake to potentially exceed.

The fact that Road House 2024 is not getting a theatrical release may not be a good sign for the film. Nevertheless, director Liman has enough confidence in it to boycott its SXSW premiere in protest of Amazon MGM Studios’ decision to release the movie directly to streaming. The inclusion of the always captivating Gyllenhaal in the lead role gives hope that the studio’s choice to skip theaters may have been a mistake. Additionally, Liman’s skilled direction behind the camera provides further optimism that the film could turn out better than anticipated.

Road House will be available on Prime Video starting March 21, 2024.

The original Road House has a dedicated fan base who may have mixed feelings about the remake or the casting of Gyllenhaal. If Swayze were still with us, he might have supported his Donnie Darko co-star and possibly even made a cameo in the new version. It remains to be seen if Road House 2024 will be able to win over skeptical Swayze fans and establish itself as a cult classic in action movie history.

Source: Jake Gyllenhaal/Instagram

Editor's P/S:

The article offers an intriguing glimpse into the upcoming remake of the classic action film "Road House," starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal's heartfelt tribute to the original star, Patrick Swayze, evokes a sense of nostalgia while also highlighting the potential for a new interpretation. The article's comparison of the remake to the original raises questions about whether it can surpass the cult status achieved by the 1989 film.

Despite the controversy surrounding its direct-to-streaming release, the article suggests that the film may have merit. The inclusion of Gyllenhaal and the skilled direction of Doug Liman provide a glimmer of hope that the remake could avoid the pitfalls that often accompany such remakes. Ultimately, the true test will come when the film premieres at SXSW and critics and fans alike weigh in on whether Gyllenhaal's Elwood Dalton can match the iconic status of Swayze's James Dalton.