Fight Clip Club: Roadhouse

Pain don’t hurt.

I feel the need to continue with light hearted fight scenes these days (these days being what they are and all). I was more than tempted to talk about a certain beautifully done hammer fight in a well known gangster movie (no spoilers), but when I started to look it over, as much as I still love it, I feel a mission to keep to the funnier or more joyous side of the field of artistic violence I love so much. So I’m staying in happy land, but don’t worry—I’ll be getting back to some enjoyably gnarly stuff in the future. For now, though, the funny fodder is rich and delicious, and I’m not sad at all to be staying here in the Land of Light Fights. I hope you agree.

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Roadhouse is one of those ‘80s action classics that many people remember with fondness. Like last week’s Last Dragon, it boasts a plot, acting, and action scenes that are as cheesy as fondue. Unlike last week’s flick, though, Roadhouse stands up to the test of time much better. Since its release at the very tail end of the ‘80s, in fact, many have touted Roadhouse as so bad it’s good, instead of truly bad. The plot is pretty simple, but the characters are multiply epic, and it’s got some of the most boisterous blowouts in cinema, especially its big bar brawls. 

This is Patrick Swayze in his oiled and topless prime; it’s Sam Elliott as a haggard mentor right out of one of his many Westerns; and of course we’ve got the tight talents of one Marshall R. Teague, martial arts legend of TV and film fromage. Yes, you remember him from Walker, Texas Ranger and also about ten thousand other ‘80s favorites. 

Let’s take a closer look at just one of the many super fun big bar brawls in Roadhouse. Talk about some stellar pool cue twirling, amirite?