R.I.P.D (PG-15) – starring Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Bacon, directed by Robert Schwentke
Film-makers continue to raid the pages of comic-books and fantasy literature for inspiration for their movies, with another three examples released this week.
R.I.P.D, standing for Rest In Peace Department, is an adaptation of a Dark Horse comic and follows a recently deceased Boston police officer Nick Walker (Reynolds) after he’s recruited by a supernatural agency that patrols the afterlife.
The R.I.P.D hunt down ‘Deados’, restless spirits that have not ‘crossed over’ and continue to terrorise the living world, and Walker is teamed up with a deceased lawman from the 1800s, Roy Pulsipher (Bridges, in full-on ornery mode) to track down and capture these demonic creatures.
The mismatched, bickering duo stumble onto a nefarious plot to open a portal that will allow the dead to invade the Earth and then race against time to thwart the diabolical plan.
The movie has obvious parallels to the popular ‘Men in Black’ – another comic book adaptation – with a wise-cracking newbie shown the ropes of a fantastical new world by a gruff veteran.
It’s a tough ask to produce as big a hit as the Will Smith/Tommy Lee Jones action comedy, but in Reynolds, director Schwentke has a lead with the comic timing needed, and co-star Bridges is always watchable when he’s playing cantankerous.
R.I.P.D will open at cinemas this Thursday 22nd August.
