The trailer for R.I.P.D. has finally appeared online, albeit through an unofficial channel. The video confirmed my fears that the movie was going to be a very mainstream/PG-13 take on the source material. But, it is still better than I was expecting. With charismatic performances from Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges, R.I.P.D. may just be a fun summer diversion.
Here’s the handy plot synopsis (for the comic):
Nick is dead — at least, that’s how he remembers it — and teams up with another deceased detective, a gunslinger from the Old West (played by Jeff Bridges), to work for the elite task force, the Rest In Peace Department (hence the title), to track down the dead on Earth. (Due to overpopulation, some unsettled spirits haven’t gone where they’re supposed to, and are hiding out). Technically, R.I.P.D. officers (who are overseen by Mary-Louise Parker) aren’t allowed to kill anyone living, and aren’t supposed to interact with anyone from their previous lives, but Nick is haunted by the fact that he was murdered by another cop (played by Kevin Bacon), and can’t let it go.
When I watched the trailer, the first movies that popped into my head were HELLBOY and MEN IN BLACK. The movie definitely takes a lighthearted look at death, much like HELLBOY, but the overall look and design reminds me of MEN IN BLACK. I like the look of this movie, but part of me wishes it had better visual effects. The CGI here looks incredibly cheesy which is definitely a drawback when dealing with this material. I wish they had gone for practical effects for the monsters. But, director Robert Schwentke (RED) is not exactly a top tier filmmaker, so he would have to make due with a limited budget. Hopefully this movie delivers on the fun the trailer promises and doesn’t end up being a total trainwreck.
Check out the trailer and judge for yourself.
R.I.P.D. stars Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, James Hong, Mary-Louise Parker, Robert Knepper, and Kevin Bacon. It opens in 3D on July 19, 2013.