Let’s get this out of the best way first: There’s a definite lack of throat-ripping within the new “Highway Home.”
That is likely to be a bummer to those that adored the well-over-the-top 1989 motion flick starring Patrick Swayze. The most recent “Highway Home” (streaming now on Prime Video) options Jake Gyllenhaal as a person named Dalton who, like Swayze’s character, is employed to wash up a rowdy bar the place fights and violence erupt nightly.
There are definitely similarities between the two-fisted tales but additionally some key variations – for one, the ’89 movie befell in a small Missouri city, the brand new one on an island within the Florida Keys. Right here’s a rundown of how the stable and surprisingly humorous “Highway Home” remake compares to the cult-classic cheeseball authentic (out there on Prime Video and Max).
What’s the identical, what’s totally different between ‘Highway Home’ 1989 and the 2024 remake?
The final premise carries over, and there are echoes between each films. Each Daltons get pleasure from espresso, have anger points, are attempting to maneuver on from a lethal incident of their previous, are uncannily good at patching themselves up from nasty wounds, and get pleasant with a neighborhood physician (performed by Kelly Lynch for Swayze, Daniela Melchior for Gyllenhaal). In addition they share the signature “Highway Home” line: “Nobody ever wins in a battle.”
Nevertheless, the unique film may be very ‘80s when it comes to its over-the-top vibe, with chair-throwing brawls set in a sweaty honky tonk. The brand new “Home” is a extra scenic affair, with a bar on the water, boats and even a hungry crocodile. It’s additionally closely influenced by blended martial arts and UFC, since Gyllenhaal’s Dalton goes from being a harmful fighter within the octagon to breaking bones in a breezy tavern setting. (The unique film’s bar title, the Double Deuce, garners an Easter egg within the new movie.)
‘Highway Home’:Jake Gyllenhaal acquired a staph an infection making the brand new film, says his ‘complete arm swelled up’
Who’s the perfect Dalton: Patrick Swayze or Jake Gyllenhaal?
For starters, Swayze’s Dalton – a quiet and philosophical man with tai chi abilities and a guilt advanced – is among the late actor’s most memorable roles the place he wasn’t dancing or making pottery. It isn’t Gyllenhaal’s normal forte, although he is performed rough-and-tumble earlier than (see: 2015’s “Southpaw”), and the Oscar-nominated star is not too shabby an motion star. But regardless that they share the identical final title, their Daltons are very totally different personalities.
Swayze’s Dalton is just about a throat-ripping city legend, touring the nation and going the place he must go for the sake of bar furnishings in all places. There’s even a working joke the place everyone tells him, “I believed you’d be greater.” However he’s performed this earlier than once we meet him – not so with Gyllenhaal’s Dalton, whose first title is Elwood. (Swayze’s is James, however it’s by no means uttered within the film and solely seen on a hospital file.)
Bar proprietor Frankie (Jessica Williams) is definitely in search of another person when she finally ends up hiring Elwood as her head bouncer, regardless that he’s seemingly by no means had a bouncing gig. It’s a alternative that doesn’t work that logically, however, hey, Elwood’s nonetheless aces at power-slapping ruffians and instructing his workers easy methods to cope with varied weaponed roustabouts. (Gyllenhaal doesn’t rip throats however does wallop one dude’s trachea.)
Which ‘Highway Home’ has the higher supporting forged? (Trace: Conor McGregor)
The unique “Highway Home” presents Sam Elliott as Dalton’s finest bouncer good friend Wade, in order that’s a bonus. Lynch is a steamier love curiosity for Swayze, although Melchior’s physician and Gyllenhaal’s Dalton have a pleasant picnic on the water and she or he’s good at bailing him when the cops tough him up. And the OG film has the significantly better major villain: Ben Gazzara is merciless and intense as Brad Wesley, against the law lord who runs the city, whereas Billy Magnussen’s Ben Brandt, who’s making an attempt to acquire Frankie’s street home for nefarious functions, leans type of goofy.
What the brand new “Highway Home” actually has going for it’s real-life Irish fighter Conor McGregor in his first film function. A lot of the henchmen within the first movie are boring ‘80s-style goons (the exception being professional wrestler Terry Funk) however McGregor is totally different: His charismatic brute Knox steals scenes maniacally swinging a golf membership, throwing down with Gyllenhaal in a vicious closing battle, and displaying his naked posterior. Curiously sufficient, similar to Swayze again within the day.