R.I.P.D.

Based on the Dark Horse comic book of the same name, R.I.P.D is a mixed bag of recycled ideas from other movies.

Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds), a hotshot detective is killed in the line of duty and is recruited by Proctor (Mary Louise Parker) to either join a supernatural police force that protects the living from devious souls or take the chance and be judged for the life he has lead. Nick is partnered with Roy Pulsifer (Jeff Bridges) a veteran sheriff with a knack for spotting a fugitive soul. They must learn to work together in order to face a threat to the human race as lost souls have found a way to stay on Earth.

The initial plot of two mismatched partners fighting creatures has already been done in the Men In Black trilogy. Even the two lead characters seem similar in that the younger apprentice if you will is a cocky, overconfident hothead, while the old pro is a cool, calm, straight by the book cop. Not only is that film copied but there are elements of Ghost and Ghostbusters thrown into the mix.

Reynolds is the weak element, as usual. His blank, emotionless stare brings a cold and impassionate aspect to a character weighed down by guilt. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Bridges ramps it up to 90 with a showboating, scenery chewing role. The character feels like the bastard child of Rooster Cogburn & Jeffrey Lebowski, however, with voice to match. Parker is really the scene stealer with a funny and quirky turn as the two cops' superior.

The tone of the film is more lighthearted than would normally be expected of a movie of this type. If the filmmakers had gone for a darker theme then it may have been more of an interesting take on proceedings.

Director Robert Schwentke, who previously directed Red, packs each scene with detail and the camera is constantly moving but never distracting. The effects are very hit and miss, with some looking unfinished as if the studio had run out of time for a release date.

Even though R.I.P.D is flawed and unoriginal, it is nevertheless fun, enjoyable and at times quite humorous.