MOVIE REVIEW: R.I.P.D.

Veteran sheriff Roy Pulsifer (Bridges) has spent his career with the legendary police force known as R.I.P.D. tracking monstrous spirits who are cleverly disguised as ordinary people. His mission? To arrest and bring to justice a special brand of criminals trying to escape final judgment by hiding among the unsuspecting on Earth. Once the wise-cracking Roy is assigned former rising-star detective Nick Walker (Reynolds) as his junior officer, the new partners have to turn grudging respect into top-notch teamwork. When they uncover a plot that could end life as we know it, two of R.I.P.D.’s finest must miraculously restore the cosmic balance...or watch the tunnel to the afterlife begin sending angry souls the very wrong way.~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Robert Schwentke

Cast: Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker, Stephanie Szostak

Release Date: Jul 19, 2013 RealD 3D

Rated PG-13 for violence, sci-fi/fantasy action, some sensuality, and language including sex references

Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy

Review:

R.I.P.D is a hammier sillier knock off of Men In Black, some of the character designs and sets look like they’ve been stolen from their backlot, with bits of Ghostbusters sprinkled in for good measure. If you can get past that fact then you might be able to enjoy some of the goofy fun on display here. Robert Schwentke created a breeze silly little film with some rather impressive action set pieces especially the 3D finale. It rarely lingers much on anything and moves from scene to scene like a college kid on a bar hop. When it does linger to long on quiet moments it really bogs down, thankfully there aren’t many. Most of the cast seems to be having a ball especially Jeff Bridges who chews up scenery throughout. Bridges just looks like he’s having a ball and while he and Ryan Reynolds don’t have perfect chemistry together it works well enough. Reynolds himself does his usual act and it fit the character for the most part. Mary-Louise Parker is great in a small but fun turn as the duo’s boss. Kevin Bacon is the only one that kind of phones in his performance, he seems rather disinterested for the most part. Honestly, that might be a result of reading the overly predictable script. There isn’t any tension throughout the film and the plot is rather uninspired even downright lazy occasionally. R.I.P.D is harmless fluff that’ll probably be viewed more often than not on cable tv.

C+

MOVIE REVIEWS: DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS

IN THEATERS

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS



Tim, is an up-and-coming executive who has just received his first invitation to the "dinner for idiots," a monthly event hosted by his boss that promises bragging rights to the exec that shows up with the biggest buffoon. Tim's fiancée, Julie, finds it distasteful and Tim agrees to skip the dinner, until he bumps into Barry--an IRS employee who devotes his spare time to building elaborate taxidermy mouse dioramas--and quickly realizes he's struck idiot gold. Tim can't resist, and invites Barry, whose blundering good intentions soon sends Tim's life into a frenzied downward spiral and a series of misadventures, threatening a major business deal, bringing crazy stalker ex-girlfriend, Darla, back into Tim's life and driving Julie into the arms of another man.

Director: Jay Roach

Cast: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Stephanie Szostak, Zach Galifianakis, Bruce Greenwood

Release Date: Jul 30, 2010

Rated PG-13 for sequences of crude and sexual content, some partial nudity and language and sexual content

Runtime: 1 hr. 50 min.

Genres: Comedy, Comedy

Review:

Kind of like an old basketball court with too many dead spots Dinner For Schmucks looks like its ready made for classic comedy status with a strong cast and a funny concept, it’s a remake of the French film Le Dîner de Cons, but plays it too safe throughout and fails to keep the laughs coming at a consist basis. Jay Roach, the walk example of directorial mediocrity, directs this film with a unfocused hand and delivers an uneven and overlong comedy. Running nearly 2 hours and feeling every second of it, Roach can’t seem stay focused on the funny aspects of the film or his cast. Steve Carell is totally committed to his character and is likable and funny more often than not. Paul Rudd doesn’t fare as well as he’s left to function as the straight man to the general zaniness around him. It’s a shame that Rudd’s finally gotten headlining roles but been denied to the ability to be funny, just take a peek at his older films and you’ll see how terribly he’s being misused as of late. Zach Galifianakis has a small role but he steals every scene he’s in and you’re left wishing his character had had a bigger part. Lucy Punch is semi terrifying as Tim’s one night stand. Jemaine Clement is relegated to overly cartoonish over the top role as the “cutting edge” artist. His character is a good example of what’s wrong with the film. The script peppers the film with all these overblown characters but never utilizes them properly and plays it to safe and thoroughly avoids anything even close to mean spirited even though the concept is very much so. Instead, we are left with a generally predictable paint by the number affair that holds off on the big dinner scene for way too long and leaves wondering if it was worth the wait.

C-