'R.I.P.D.' Is on the Case, Putting Dead in Their Place

So often, it is amusing to watch a real actor navigating his or her way through a middling action film. In fact, it can be downright ticklish.

Such was the case with Liam Neeson slaying just about everybody in his path in the "Taken" films. What a ride! His presence, though, elevated somewhat essentially banal material. Similarly, the presence of Jeff Bridges in "R.I.P.D.," or Rest In Peace Department, lends it a modicum of seriousness in all of the silliness therein. It arrives in U.S. theaters today.

JB is R.I.P.D. officer/enforcer Roy Pulsipher. The mission of the R.I.P.D. is rid Earth of the dead that won't go peaceable into the afterlife. The creatures have the temerity to be gadabouting amongst the living in very human disguises! The living is none the wiser! This, is not sustainable; it cannot be abided. Think of the complications! Hence the need for the R.I.P.D.

Incidentally, all "R.I.P.D." staffers are dead. Roy and his newly dead new partner Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) are tasked with putting the interlopers in their place. Like their quarry, the partners are disguised. Roy is a blonde bombshell and Nick is a middle-aged Asian male. How do all the dead recognize each other? They have their ways. (See trailer above).

In "R.I.P.D," which is based on Peter M. Lenkov's comic book, "Rest in Peace Department," JB brings a lot of Rooster Cogburn swagger. It's as if the actor asked director Robert Schwentke what was his motivation and the director said, "Just do that thing you did in 'True Grit'."

JB sets about chewing up the scenery Rooster-style, and seems to be having a heck of a time doing so. One can just imagine him reasoning, "I know this is preposterous. I know some people are going to wonder what an Oscar-winning actor with a long, successful career is doing here. But hey, it's kinda fun (and the paycheck ain't bad either)!"

Alas, neither Rooster nor Mary-Louise Parker as Roy and Nick's droll commander, Mildred Proctor, can save this wacky puppy. Take heart, though. It's summertime and the livin' is easy.

"R.I.P.D." is rated PG-13 for violence, sci-fi/fantasy action, some sensuality and language, including sex references; visit http://www.ripd.com to learn more about the film.