The Road House remake of 2024, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Dalton, brings a modern twist to the classic ’80s action movie originally led by Patrick Swayze. While the remake maintains some of the character dynamics from the original film, it unfortunately repeats a disappointing mistake when it comes to one particular character.
In both versions of the film, there is a character—Laura in the remake and Carrie Ann in the original—who establishes a friendly rapport with Dalton early on by bringing him breakfast. However, despite their initial likability and charm, both characters are sidelined as the story progresses, with minimal involvement in the main conflict. In the 2024 remake, Laura’s dwindling screen time ultimately leaves her feeling underutilized, mirroring the fate of Carrie Ann in the original.
Laura’s diminishing presence in the Road House remake highlights a missed opportunity to give her character more depth and development. While she serves as Dalton’s welcome wagon upon his arrival at the bar, her role diminishes as the focus shifts to the action-packed main plot. Even though Laura remains present throughout the film, she is relegated to the background, missing out on potential humorous interactions and meaningful moments with Dalton.
The comparison between Laura and Carrie Ann underscores the remake’s failure to rectify the underutilization of supporting characters from the original film. While the 1989 Road House effectively balanced the screen time and importance of its bar staff, the 2024 remake prioritizes the villains over Dalton’s allies at the titular bar. Additionally, the remake lacks the cohesive focus on the bar staff as a collective, with fewer named characters receiving substantial attention.
Furthermore, while the original film established a strong connection between Dalton and the house band, featuring musician Jeff Healey as Cody, the remake falls short in integrating live music into the narrative. Unlike the original, where Cody and his band played integral roles in the story, the remake features multiple music acts without any significant character presence, resulting in a more disjointed portrayal of the bar atmosphere.
Overall, while the Road House remake of 2024 retains some elements of the original film, its treatment of supporting characters like Laura highlights a missed opportunity to enhance the depth and cohesion of the narrative. As fans continue to revisit and analyze both versions of the iconic action movie, the comparison underscores the importance of character development and storytelling in delivering a compelling cinematic experience.
FAQ
Who is Laura in the Road House remake (2024), and how does her character compare to Carrie Ann from the original film?
Laura is a bartender in the 2024 remake who establishes a friendly bond with Dalton upon his arrival at the bar, similar to Carrie Ann’s role in the original. Both characters bring Dalton breakfast early in the story but are sidelined as the plot progresses.
Why is Laura’s character underutilized in the Road House remake (2024)?
Despite her initial rapport with Dalton, Laura receives diminishing screen time and lacks meaningful involvement in the main conflict of the film. This underutilization limits her character development and potential impact on the story.
Does the Road House remake (2024) prioritize its supporting characters like the original film did?
No, unlike the original Road House, which balanced the focus on its bar staff and their collective plight, the remake prioritizes the villains over Dalton’s allies at the bar. Fewer named characters receive substantial attention in the remake.
How does the remake handle the integration of live music compared to the original film?
While the original Road House featured a cohesive connection between Dalton and the house band, led by Jeff Healey’s character Cody, the remake falls short in integrating live music into the narrative. Multiple music acts lack significant character presence, resulting in a more disjointed portrayal of the bar atmosphere.
What missed opportunities does the Road House remake (2024) present in its treatment of supporting characters like Laura?
The remake misses the opportunity to give characters like Laura more depth and development, potentially enhancing the overall cohesion and impact of the narrative. By sidelining supporting characters, the remake fails to rectify the underutilization seen in the original film and overlooks opportunities for meaningful interactions and story arcs.
As audiences continue to examine and compare the Road House remake (2024) with its predecessor, discussions around character development and storytelling remain central to understanding the strengths and shortcomings of each adaptation.