"Exit Speed" director Scott Ziehl's 2006 straight-to-video sequel "Road House 2: Last Call" qualifies an above-average guilty pleasure that makes several homages to the 1989 Patrick Swayze classic "Road House." Typically, these B-movie spin-offs qualify as barely half as good as their predecessors. The no-name cast and flimsy premise that links it to the original "Road House" may raise serious doubts in the minds of those who craved the original about watching it. Actually, despite killing off Swayze's character, this slam-bang, 86-minute fracas casts Johnathon Schaech as Shane Tanner. Indeed, Tanner is James Dalton's son. However, Shane's uncle, Nate Tanner (Will Patton of "Armageddon"), raised him since Dalton found himself far too busy as a bouncer at various clubs to be a parent. Now, Shane has grown up and is working as an undercover DEA Agent in New York City when we first see him make a bust.
As it turns out, Shane got his first taste of law enforcement as a Louisiana State Trooper. Shane's uncle Nate owns The Black Pelican, a popular hang-out for the consumption of alcoholic beverages and other mind-altering drugs. When Nate refuses to sell out to the local crime honcho, Will Bill Decarie (Jake Busey of "Starship Troopers"), the villains set him up, beat him down, and his injuries land him in the hospital. After a local cop notifies Shane about his uncle's hardship, our hero takes an unauthorized leave of absence. Like Patrick Swayze's Dalton, Shane abhors flying. Instead, he cruises down to Louisiana in his own ride. Along the way, he spots an attractive gal, Beau (Ellen Hollman of "Army of One"), at the side of the road. She is changing a flat tire on her jeep. Gallantly, Shane offers to help. Somewhat reluctantly, Beau lets him. Coincidentally, Wild Bill careens back past them while Shane is swapping out tires. Later, we're told Beau is Wild Bill's cousin. Once Wild Bill learns about Beau's liaison with Shane, he warns her when he plans to harm him, so she doesn't suffer the fate of collateral damage in the crossfire. However, Ziehl and scenarists Miles Chapman of "Escape Plan," television scribe Richard Chizmar, and Schaech don't let audiences know about Wild Bill and Beau's kinship until later.
Since Nate is laid up in the hospital, Wild Bill decides to scare shadow out of Shane so he will sell The Black Pelican to him. Steadfastly, our protagonist refuses to sell, and Wild Bill goes into orbit with indignation at this news from his minions. Moreover, he is especially infuriated because his Miami-based superior, Victor Cross (Richard Norton of "Lionheart"), has big plans for The Black Pelican. Cross plans to use it as a front to expand his drug smuggling interests. Meantime, when Shane is at the club, Beau shows up to thank him properly, but then walks out and forgets to take her cell phone. Meantime, the treacherous bouncer who set up Nate and sent him to a rendezvous with Wild Bill's minions keeps feeding Bill every move Tanner makes. Hardcore "Road House" fans may be sad to learn that Wild Bill killed Tanner's father Dalton on order from Cross. Apparently, Cross sought to exact vengeance on Shane because as a rookie cop he arrested him on drug charges. Unfortunately, the trouble is Wild Bill shot the wrong person. Instead of putting a bullet into Tanner, Bill screwed up and killed Tanner's dad by accident. Since the homicide, Shane has been struggling to find the person responsible for his dad's demise. The chances of Swayze reprising his role as James Dalton were questionable. In 2009, the "Dirty Dancing" heartthrob died tragically at age 57 after a 20-month bout with pancreatic cancer.
Johnathon Schaech lacks Patrick Swayze's chiseled muscular physique. However, Schaech appears far brawnier and more believable than Swayze. Obviously, the people behind this spin-off sequel took the time to watch the original. Several characters spring the same line on Shane that their predecessors did on Dalton about his deceptive lack of stature. Similarly, just as "Road House" featured an airborne flaming inferno of an automobile near the finale of the original, Ziehl duplicates the scene with tamer pyrotechnics. As the second-in-command villain, Jake Busey chews the scenery with considerable relish. Sadly, as Busey's boss legendary Aussie stunt man Richard Norton doesn't show up on screen as I would have liked. Authentic Louisiana locales give "Road House 2" not only atmosphere but also credibility. "Fast & Furious" stunt coordinator J. J. Perry stages several pretty visceral, bang-up fistfights inside and outside the bar that make you want to shadowbox to them. These stunt men don't just fall down, they tumble as if on wires as they are hurled like tenpins. Ultimately, "Road House 2: Last Call" snuffed any future Swayze spin-offs. Shane explains the mystery covering James Dalton's murder, but he doesn't have a clue to who iced his dad.
Director Scott Ziehl keeps things popping throughout this trim 86-minute potboiler, and he never wears out his welcome. Indestructible Will Patton appears to be playing the equivalent of the Sam Elliot role from the original film. The scenarists used the blueprint of "Road House" as a guideline for their screenplay on the theory that they could catch lightning in a bottle with material that had succeed for Swayze. For example, Ziehl and company stage a careening car stunt like the one in "Road House," but it wasn't as explosive as the original. Altogether, don't believe some of the negative reviews here about "Road House 2" because it is an entertaining saga.
As it turns out, Shane got his first taste of law enforcement as a Louisiana State Trooper. Shane's uncle Nate owns The Black Pelican, a popular hang-out for the consumption of alcoholic beverages and other mind-altering drugs. When Nate refuses to sell out to the local crime honcho, Will Bill Decarie (Jake Busey of "Starship Troopers"), the villains set him up, beat him down, and his injuries land him in the hospital. After a local cop notifies Shane about his uncle's hardship, our hero takes an unauthorized leave of absence. Like Patrick Swayze's Dalton, Shane abhors flying. Instead, he cruises down to Louisiana in his own ride. Along the way, he spots an attractive gal, Beau (Ellen Hollman of "Army of One"), at the side of the road. She is changing a flat tire on her jeep. Gallantly, Shane offers to help. Somewhat reluctantly, Beau lets him. Coincidentally, Wild Bill careens back past them while Shane is swapping out tires. Later, we're told Beau is Wild Bill's cousin. Once Wild Bill learns about Beau's liaison with Shane, he warns her when he plans to harm him, so she doesn't suffer the fate of collateral damage in the crossfire. However, Ziehl and scenarists Miles Chapman of "Escape Plan," television scribe Richard Chizmar, and Schaech don't let audiences know about Wild Bill and Beau's kinship until later.
Since Nate is laid up in the hospital, Wild Bill decides to scare shadow out of Shane so he will sell The Black Pelican to him. Steadfastly, our protagonist refuses to sell, and Wild Bill goes into orbit with indignation at this news from his minions. Moreover, he is especially infuriated because his Miami-based superior, Victor Cross (Richard Norton of "Lionheart"), has big plans for The Black Pelican. Cross plans to use it as a front to expand his drug smuggling interests. Meantime, when Shane is at the club, Beau shows up to thank him properly, but then walks out and forgets to take her cell phone. Meantime, the treacherous bouncer who set up Nate and sent him to a rendezvous with Wild Bill's minions keeps feeding Bill every move Tanner makes. Hardcore "Road House" fans may be sad to learn that Wild Bill killed Tanner's father Dalton on order from Cross. Apparently, Cross sought to exact vengeance on Shane because as a rookie cop he arrested him on drug charges. Unfortunately, the trouble is Wild Bill shot the wrong person. Instead of putting a bullet into Tanner, Bill screwed up and killed Tanner's dad by accident. Since the homicide, Shane has been struggling to find the person responsible for his dad's demise. The chances of Swayze reprising his role as James Dalton were questionable. In 2009, the "Dirty Dancing" heartthrob died tragically at age 57 after a 20-month bout with pancreatic cancer.
Johnathon Schaech lacks Patrick Swayze's chiseled muscular physique. However, Schaech appears far brawnier and more believable than Swayze. Obviously, the people behind this spin-off sequel took the time to watch the original. Several characters spring the same line on Shane that their predecessors did on Dalton about his deceptive lack of stature. Similarly, just as "Road House" featured an airborne flaming inferno of an automobile near the finale of the original, Ziehl duplicates the scene with tamer pyrotechnics. As the second-in-command villain, Jake Busey chews the scenery with considerable relish. Sadly, as Busey's boss legendary Aussie stunt man Richard Norton doesn't show up on screen as I would have liked. Authentic Louisiana locales give "Road House 2" not only atmosphere but also credibility. "Fast & Furious" stunt coordinator J. J. Perry stages several pretty visceral, bang-up fistfights inside and outside the bar that make you want to shadowbox to them. These stunt men don't just fall down, they tumble as if on wires as they are hurled like tenpins. Ultimately, "Road House 2: Last Call" snuffed any future Swayze spin-offs. Shane explains the mystery covering James Dalton's murder, but he doesn't have a clue to who iced his dad.
Director Scott Ziehl keeps things popping throughout this trim 86-minute potboiler, and he never wears out his welcome. Indestructible Will Patton appears to be playing the equivalent of the Sam Elliot role from the original film. The scenarists used the blueprint of "Road House" as a guideline for their screenplay on the theory that they could catch lightning in a bottle with material that had succeed for Swayze. For example, Ziehl and company stage a careening car stunt like the one in "Road House," but it wasn't as explosive as the original. Altogether, don't believe some of the negative reviews here about "Road House 2" because it is an entertaining saga.