Original Road House star Marshall Teague gave his opinion on the fight scenes in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video remake, telling TMZ he thinks they're “humorous” in comparison.
The original 1989 Road House starred Patrick Swayze as a highly-educated bouncer who took it upon himself to liberate a small town from ruthless local businessman Wade Garrett (Ben Gazzara). Playing Garrett’s number one henchman, Jimmy, Teague was featured in the film’s most famous sequence, in which Swayze rips his throat out during a brutal fight scene.
Amazon’s Road House stars Jake Gyllenhaal in Swayze’s role, with UFC fighter Conor McGregor making his acting debut as the film’s villain. Many figured the fight sequences in the remake wouldn’t live up to those vicious heights. Now, Teague has seemingly confirmed that.
“The one thing I found humourous was the sound of the hits in the fight. They’re a little off to me,” Teague opined. While admitting that, “I haven’t seen enough of [the remake] to be able to give you a real take on it,” he noted a marked difference in the realism of the brawls.
“The hits sounded different. [Swayze and I] were hitting,” he revealed. “He and I hit each other pretty hard throughout that fight, throughout the movie for that matter. We hit pretty hard in there. I tried to take it easy on the others, and he did, too. But when it came to he and I, we poleaxed each other, basically, is the word.”
Teague carefully noted that his criticisms shouldn’t be read as a lack of support for the new Road House. He simply feels protective of the original—a professional experience he still holds dear—and of the iconic role Swayze originated.
“I love him to death. I miss him every day,” Teague said of the star, who passed away in 2009 from pancreatic cancer at age 57. “He’s a great guy. I feel very honored to have had the opportunity to do that film with him.”
“I hope [Gyllenhaal and McGregor] have the same relationship, I really do,” he continued. “Jake is a fantastic actor and Conor is an incredible fighter. His acting career, I don’t know that much about. I wish them well, I really do.”
Amazon is releasing Road House through Prime Video on March 21. It’s directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Edge of Tomorrow), and also stars Daniella Melchior, Billy Magnussen, and Jessica Williams.
