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Gone and Soon Forgotten

"R.I.P.D." brings to mind a number of other films. There are cartoonish CGI ghosts recalling "Ghost Busters". There is a secret police that gets the monsters off the street; and our hero enters this world as rookie to a grizzled veteran copper, ala "Men in Black". The hero is dead and may be hell bound, as in "Spawn". The hero leaves behind a wife, whom he wants to say goodbye to and to protect, as in "Ghost". And, he walks the world as a different person, unable to directly tell others of his previous identity, as in the Showtime series, "Dead Like Me".

In blockbuster season, we expect some offerings to be derivative. Arguably, all stories are derivative and our most lauded directors are masters at leveraging old materials like a skillful golden-age hip hop artist samples: "Kill Bill" resembles its musical cousin Paul's Boutique as clearly as its progenitors, the Shaw Brothers.

Even in less acclaimed hands, we can be in for a good time. "MIB" is largely derivative of "Ghost Busters", and both were enjoyable romps as both brought more to the table than their opening plot points. "Ghost Busters" benefits from Bill Murray's signature deliveries and the strong writing of Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. "Men in Black" had great CGI for its time and, more importantly, Tommy Lee Jones provides a perfect, Dragnet-deadpan foil to Will Smith's boyish enthusiasm.

But then again, a film may end up being just derivative, just an outline from recycled plot points without the benefit of good writing to flesh out memorable dialogue. Good actors can be left walking through a forgettable story playing riffs on their better work, resulting in no chemistry between the characters. And so we have "R.I.P.D."

Kevin Bacon is competent as usual as the film's baddie, Hayes: another crooked, Irish-American, Boston cop. Jeff Bridges is annoying as Roy, the veteran, motor-mouth 19th century lawman. Ryan Reynolds and Stephanie Szostak make a gorgeous couple.

James Hong, as avatar to Nick (Reynolds), is sorely underutilized. Mary-Louise Parker, as the head of the Rest in Peace Department (hence the title) makes the best of her role in the film and especially of note in the trailer, which seems to have retained some of the funnier lines that did not make the final cut.

"R.I.P.D." is in 3D. It provides dramatic subtitles and a deep perspective from Jeff Bridge's knee cap to his groin as he drives side saddle in one scene, but it does not add much to the film. The talent could have been better spent on better CGI, which is on or below par with the work done in the distant past for Men in Black.

While there is nothing to hate in the film, there's nothing to remember. If you are down to your last $14, I would not fight you to spend it elsewhere, I would just recommend rolling the dice on whatever else is playing or find a last-run screening to watch Iron Man 3 again, instead.