Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds headline the 3D supernatural action-adventure R.I.P.D. as two cops dispatched by the otherworldly Rest In Peace Department to protect and serve the living from an increasingly destructive array of creatures. Can they save this movie or will they let this rest in peace?
Based on the Dark Horse comic created by Peter M. Lenkov, Detective Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) and Bobby Hayes stole a chest full of gold during a drug bust. Having a change of heart, Nick informs Hayes that he intends to return the gold. During a raid on a warehouse, Hayes kills Nick to prevent him from returning the gold. As he ascends to the afterlife, he was recruited in the Rest in Peace Department (R.I.P.D) as Veteran sheriff Roy Pulsifer’s (Jeff Bridges) junior partner. Together, their mission is to arrest and bring to justice a special brand of outlaws trying to escape final judgment by hiding among the unsuspecting on Earth. The new partners have to turn grudging respect into top-notch teamwork. When they uncover a plot that could end life as we know it, two of the R.I.P.D.’s finest must restore the cosmic balance…or watch as the tunnel to the afterlife begins sending angry spirits the very wrong way.
Let me start with the cast: Ryan Reynolds was less funny as I expected. The movie has some dead elements but it doesn’t mean he has to be lifeless. He’s becoming quite a bad investment nowadays. Most of the fun was laid in the hands of Jeff Bridges. It’s always a delight to see him in screen. The comedic scenes worked because he’s good. Sadly, he and Reynolds have no chemistry. This is quite a problem since in order for a buddy cop movie to work, the leads must have that chemistry. For their support, Mary-Louise Parker gives a fun turn as RIPD’s proctor. I like her rapport with Bridges. Kevin Bacon’s performance is flat and his character got the most cliché twist. Stephanie Szostak as Nick’s widow didn’t leave much of an impression.
I enjoyed Robert Schwentke’s R.E.D with its all-star cast but this one is a disappointment from him. I didn’t like it overall. The premise of a dead world seems like a cool idea but was badly executed. That world wasn’t explored to the fullest. Rules of the R.I.P.D. were also not well established. They set some, the rest you have to assume by watching. I wish they laid it first or they did something in the route of Zombieland. The film also got lost in its visual effects and action. It jumps right into the big set pieces. With a big budget of $130 million, the film’s CGI effects particularly on the deados looks cartoony, outdated and needs improvement. Though, I appreciate some efforts made in the art direction of the R.I.P.D. headquarters and the appearances of the deados. It’s not that memorable but at least they tried. In terms of the story, it is Men in Black minus the aliens plus Ghostbusters though not as good. They even tried to give it a Ghost love story. The script is weak. Characters were underdeveloped. I’m not saying that it’s unfunny all the way. It did have some great hilarious parts. I really like the part when the film showed Nick and Roy‘s avatars as a Chinese guy played by James Hong and a supermodel portrayed by Marisa Miller. The slow-mo intro was hilarious and the expression on Hong’s face is just priceless. This is a good idea for a joke and didn’t feel repetitive all throughout the movie. Go watch this movie with less expectations and I think you’ll do okay.
Verdict:
With a weak script and character development, it was less fun as I expect it to be with the laughs limited only to Jeff Bridges, Mary-Louise Parker and the avatars.
Distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corporation, RIPD is now showing in theaters!
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About the movie reviewer:
Orange Magazine TV‘s newest film critic is a self-confessed movie geek. John Albert Villanueva love movies so much, he watch every movies from the big screen and collects DVDs of classic movies. Read his other review here.
