R.I.P.D.

"Un-dead police officers?" Really? C'mon! This PG-13 action-fest once again had me scanning my mental Thesaurus... Idiotic? Ludicrous? Preposterous? Ridiculous? Outrageous? Goofy? Hilarious? I think you get the picture. If you've seen the ads you know a recently slain cop joins a team of undead police officers in the Rest In Peace Department.

This absurd comedy, written by Phil Hay/Matt Manfridi ("Clash of the Titans") and directed by Robert Schwentke ("Red") is a sure-fire winner, full of action, comedy and Computer Generated Imaging. I freely admit that there were times things got too, too silly and my interest faltered, but then the story rallied again.

We watch:

• Jeff Bridges ("Hearts of the West") is Roy, wearing a Buffalo Bill beard and mumbling like he has a mouth full of chewing tobacco, is an old-time lawman on the third sixty-year extension of his assignment.
• Marisa Miller (Victoria's Secret model) in her slinky gold dress, is Roy's avatar when he walks among us.
• Ryan Reynolds ("Chaos Theory") is Nick, slain by his trusted partner and stunned by this new turn of events. He quickly adjusts to the idea that he can't be killed any more, at least THAT is a relief!
• James Hong ("Safe") is Nick's avatar.
• Mary-Louise Parker ("Red") is Proctor, the R.I.P.D. orientation officer in her short black uniform and white knee-length go-go boots...she made me think of Diana Rigg.
• Kevin Bacon ("Frost/Nixon") is Officer Hayes, ready and willing to comfort his partner's widow.

The CGI technicians had a blast and the audience saw blowie uppie stuff galore! Our poor heroes are really up against big-time trouble; only a few things might be worse: Global Warming, the Black Plague and bad cell-phone reception.

Oh, by the way, only in the early scenes is 3D used to any effect. $o $pend the extra money only if you are a fan....

* * * * * * * * * * * *
Here's a link to a preview:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1741202969/
* * * * * * * * * * * *