Even In The Afterlife

R.I.P.D

For many years now, many film studios have been trying to translate comic books into moneymaking movies. Not until the success of X-Men in 2000, has the market become really overrun with these types of movies. Some comic books and/or graphic novel films are really obscure and you probably didn’t even know they were comic books/graphic novels unless you did your research. RED, 2 Guns, and even 2002’s Road to Perdition (an awesome Tom Hanks film). Some of these films have done well for themselves and then there are others that probably should have been left on the page. R.I.P.D is most definitely one of those films.

Nick Walker is a Boston Police Detective, who for some unknown reason has stolen some evidence in a drug bust with his partner Bobby. After some time to think about it, Nick comes to his senses and realizes this is a bad idea. An even worse idea for Nick is explaining to his partner that he is going to turn in the evidence he found and not snitch on Bobby. Luckily, for Bobby (unfortunate for Nick) he has a perfect opportunity to dispose of Nick during a raid on a crime boss. After realizing he is dead, Nick is recruited for the R.I.P.D to help clean up the streets of Boston from all the “deados” running free. Nick is partnered up with Roy, a Wild West marshal, who insists he works alone. Nick soon finds out that he may have been killed for a larger purpose.

This movie has been done before. Let me explain with three words… Men. In. Black. It is the same set up, same partnership, and, pretty much, the same apocalyptic problem that needs to be solved. This film doesn’t even come close to the entertainment value that Men In Black provides moviegoers. The chemistry between Nick (Ryan Reynolds) and Roy (Jeff Bridges) comes close, but doesn’t hit the mark. I will admit that some of the one-liners are funny and watching Bridges ham it up was amusing at times. Other times though, it rather got annoying. Bridges sometimes comes across as trying too hard to save this film from the disaster he knows it is. Reynolds, ironically, takes himself too seriously at times and doesn’t try hard enough to save the film.

I, honestly, am not really even going to waste any more of your time with this review. You ever feel the need to watch this film, please do yourself a favor and just watch the Men In Black series. Yes, even the third one.

The Verdict: Not Worth Your Time