Today’s quick review: R.I.P.D. Boston cop Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) discovers a whole new side to life when he’s killed by his crooked partner Bob Hayes (Kevin Bacon). Diverted on his way to judgment, Nick accepts a position in the Rest in Peace Department, a heavenly police force dedicated to hunting down escaped souls on Earth. With his new partner Roy (Jeff Bridges), a sheriff from the Old West, Nick investigates the strange gold connected to his death.
R.I.P.D. is a fantasy action comedy with a fun premise and a solid pair of leads. The movie embraces its energetic side with freewheeling action, dynamic camerawork, and a willingness to embrace even the most absurd aspects of its setting. However, R.I.P.D. is missing the care shown by other movies in the same vein. The result is a shallow, entertaining watch with a limited plot and a noticeable set of flaws.
R.I.P.D. is at its strongest when it’s having fun. The rogue souls’ monstrous bodies, coupled with the durability of Nick and Roy, make for some inventive, destructive, and borderline cartoonish action. The plot moves along at a rapid clip, with only brief pauses for drama. Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges make for an effective comedic duo, and while their characters are not particularly nuanced, they are funny enough to keep the film rolling.
R.I.P.D. does have a couple of major flaws that hold it back. The story goes out of its way to avoid developing the world any more than it has to, even skipping an easy chance to flesh out the artifact at its center. The monster designs are grotesque and mesh poorly with the film’s light tone. The comedy is consistently fun but never gathers up any momentum. The plot skims over a few key stages, sacrificing a fuller arc for faster pacing.
All in all, R.I.P.D. makes for a fine popcorn watch. It makes enough mistakes that it falls well short of its potential, but what’s leftover is creative and reasonably fun. Skip it if you’re looking for an elaborate fantasy adventure or comedic brilliance. Check out Men in Black for a better take on a similar premise, The Adjustment Bureau for a serious thriller version, or The Hitman’s Bodyguard for a funnier, more mature Ryan Reynolds action comedy.
5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a creative premise, decent action and comedy, and some missed potential.