Some movies are so blatantly imitative of others that it is difficult to fathom how they were ever allowed to exist. Such is the case with R. I. P. D., which is a pseudo-zombie version of the Men in Black movies with Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones. The cops in R. I. P. D. are deceased — they work for the “Rest in Peace Department;” hence, the catchy title — protecting the Earth from likewise dead criminals who have not as yet been sent to their ultimate destination. It’s kind of a neat idea, but substitute dead dudes for aliens and, well, Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones should not be far behind.
Ryan Reynolds stars as a recently deceased policeman who is recruited to help stop the dead criminals from becoming a menace, and he is teamed with grouchy Jeff Bridges, who has spent a century at his job and likes to work alone. Nevertheless, they work together to discover a vast conspiracy that could, of course, end human civilization as we know it. Isn’t that always the way?
Robert Schwentke’s comic mash-up involves lots of action, made quite unbelievable by state-of-the-art computer effects, a ridiculous plot involving Reynolds’ former cop partner, Kevin Bacon, and the time crunch that the imminent apocalypse causes. If it weren’t so familiar it might be enjoyable, but Bridges is barely intelligible, Reynolds is insufferably anguished and Mary Louise Parker has almost nothing to do (in the Rip Torn role from Men in Black).
Where the film really goes wrong is its use of avatars. To us mortal beings, Bridges doesn’t look like Bridges; he looks like gorgeous Marisa Miller. And Reynolds doesn’t look like Reynolds; he looks like ancient James Hong. Had the movie been properly produced what we would have seen is Miller and Hong battle the undead, perhaps with narrative thoughts by Bridges and Reynolds to remind us of their real identities, but the star power in this case trumps the story logic. Some real humor could have been mined from watching a gorgeous woman and an old Chinese guy save the world, but the filmmakers weren’t brave enough to go that route, and the film suffers because of their reluctance.
R. I. P. D. is rarely as clever as it is intended to be, though the premise shows promise. It is formulaic, obvious, strident at times and, of course, very familiar. It should never have left the drawing board. ☆ 1/2. 26 September 2013.