Ryan Reynolds has been juggled about by Hollywood for a few years now, and each time, it seems he will become the next quintessential, go-to leading man. Instead, we get films that fail to fill some shoes, under-utilize the actor, under-utilize the actor whilst ruining an origin story, or just simply aren’t right for him.
It seems a near-perfect role has fallen into his hands with RIPD, a film based on a comicbook of the same name. RIPD is about a classic, B-A movie-style cop, Nick Walker, who dies in the line of duty and becomes an undead Police Officer, protecting the peace for the living and dead alike.
The trailer shows Reynolds in a red sports car speeding to a warehouse, followed by squad cars and SWAT trucks. He and other men in blue burst in and a fire-fight ensues. Reynolds dies in the altercation but wakes up. He rises to his feet and walks out, observing the chaos of the fight, which is now still.
Once Reynolds makes his way out of the warehouse, he is sucked into a flaming vortex in the sky and thrust into a job interview with RIPD’s Proctor, played by Mary-Louise Parker. We then see one of the undead baddies get shot down while attacking officers in HQ.
We turn to see Jeff Bridges as Roy Pulsipher, a cowboy, holstering a smoking gun. Reynolds is told that Bridges is his partner and reaches out for a handshake. Bridges declines, claiming “Ya gotta earn that!”
Bridges then explains the job in further detail while the trailer reveals inter-character relationships and the conflict of the film. Reynolds and Bridges have to save the living world in living avatars. Bridges is a tough and beautiful blonde woman in nice dark clothes and Reynolds is an old Chinese man.
Bridges is again wowing audiences with his ability to slip out of his stern, posh personality and into a gritty gunman’s, but he has already donned this character. Essentially, Rooster Cogburn from 2010’s True Grit (without the eye patch ) has returned for Men in Black of the dead (which is awesome).
Many people are saying the actors are wasting their time with bad movies like this, but some would say they’re missing the point of movies. They aren’t all Academy Award nominated emotional masterpieces. Some are popcorn films. They’re escapism. Actors have fun shooting lighthearted projects, and we have fun watching them.
Who do you agree with? Should filmmakers always put their most serious foot forward, in terms of material? Or do you enjoy films like these?
If you want to unwind with some friends, have some snacks, laugh, and enjoy some amazing action and effects then go and see RIPD on July 19, 2013.