The Film
Some comic books are best left on paper. Such is the case with R.I.P.D.
Oh sure, the pitch probably sounded great. Ryan Reynolds is too nice to be a corrupt cop. However, before he can redeem himself, he meets with an unfortunate accident, courtesy of Kevin Bacon. Of course, sudden death isn't going to get in the way of this cop's promising career. Instead, he's resurrected as part of the Rest In Peace Department (R.I.P.D.), which is sort of like the "Men in Black" for the afterlife.
Still not hooked? Just in case, Reynolds is paired up with Jeff Bridges, an ex-U.S. Marshal from the 1800s. The two are out hunting for "Deados," the people who escape judgment and head back to Earth as monsters. To the public, these ghouls appear as everyday citizens, while Reynolds looks like an old Asian man (James Hong) and Bridges is a hot model (Marisa Miller). Hilarious, right?
Yeah, most of R.I.P.D. is laughable, but not in the way it's supposed to be. It's sort of like Roger Rabbit meets Men in Black, except that it's not very good. Also, here are four words I never thought I'd ever say out loud: Jeff Bridges is annoying. His Dude-meets-Colonel-Sanders character will have you scratching your head for part of the movie and cringing for the rest. There's nothing to see here, folks -- well, except for Bacon. He's really underrated as a bad guy, but deserves a much better movie.
Need another peek at this movie? Check out Jim Dooley's theatrical review of R.I.P.D.
The Picture
R.I.P.D. received a theatrical 3D release and it's getting a Blu-ray 3D one as well. Universal didn't send the enhanced version out for review, but it's obvious that many of the scenes in the movie will cater to 3D-loving audiences. Just remember that this brand-new movie is based on a comic book. Of course, the 2.35:1 image is going to be a good one. Colors are great and many of the details really stand out. For instance, the facial hair on Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges is just spectacular. That said, there are some surprisingly soft moments, most of which surround the movie's monsters. These crazy creatures should have looked better, but I'm going to blame the special effects team for that one (sorry guys). Overall though, this is one good-looking image.
The Sound
Universal has given R.I.P.D. a really fun soundtrack. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is a pretty lively one, with a cartoony score and special effects to match. Expect plenty of bullets, breaking glass and that whole Staff of Jericho thing to be loud and immersive. The dialogue is always crisp and clear -- well, except in the case of Jeff Bridges. However, that's not the track's fault. The actor massacres that all on his own.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
Comic books don't always equal box-office gold. That's pretty well documented with R.I.P.D. Despite the excellent cast, the AV and a good selection of extras, the movie is just kind of boring. Also, don't even get me started on how there can be zero Boston accents in a movie that supposedly takes place in Boston. No wonder R.I.P.D. was D.O.A.
Product Details
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