Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lifeless, violent dud recycles many better sci-fi comedies.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
R.I.P.D.
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 19 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a mixed bag, receiving a range of criticisms for poor CGI, confusing storytelling, and excessive language, with many reviewers likening it unfavorably to other buddy cop movies like Men in Black. While some found humor in it and appreciated the unique zombie comedy blend, most reviews indicate a lack of cohesiveness and compelling performances, suggesting it might not be suitable for younger audiences.
- CGI issues
- Confusing story
- Excessive language
- Mixed reviews
- Not for kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Boston police detective Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) would like to give his wife, Julia (Stephanie Szostak), a better life. A stash of gold found at a crime scene might be his ticket, but he's having second thoughts. When his crooked partner, Hayes (Kevin Bacon), hears this, he shoots and kills Nick. In the afterlife, Nick unwittingly becomes a member of the Rest in Peace Department. Now paired with a new undead partner, Roy (Jeff Bridges), Nick goes back to Earth to help send "deadoes" to the afterlife where they belong. Unfortunately, there seems to be a weird connection with Hayes, the gold, and a terrifying plot to bring the apocalypse down to earth. Can Nick and Roy solve the case and stop the evil plan in time?
Is It Any Good?
This movie is a waste of time; you've already seen it done before, and much better. With lots of similarities to the Men in Black movies, Ghost, Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, Heaven Can Wait (and its remake Down to Earth), as well as many other movies, R.I.P.D. comes across as almost totally lifeless, as if it were on autopilot or generated by a computer that had been fed certain data and asked to spit out a movie. Even a great actor like Bridges merely reprises his Oscar-nominated cowboy performance from True Grit ... without all the clever dialogue or character depth. (At least he gets a few laughs.)
Director Robert Schwentke settles for sub-par special effects -- the monsters look rubbery and fake -- and haphazard plotting: Knowing what he knows, why would Hayes shoot and kill Nick? The comedy falls flat, the action is unexciting, and, even worse, the romantic angle is hopeless given that the hero is dead and his wife is still alive; it's too heavy an idea for such a "light" movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about R.I.P.D.'s cartoonish violence. Was it scary or exciting? Does any of it seem real?
Is the movie scary? How does it see the monsters in this movie? Are they funny, or sad?
Did you notice any stereotypes in the movie? How do you feel about the movie's portrayal of women, Chinese men, etc.?
Does the idea of a dead main character make the movie seem depressing? How does such a light movie handle such a dark idea?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 19, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : October 29, 2013
- Cast : Jeff Bridges , Kevin Bacon , Ryan Reynolds
- Director : Robert Schwentke
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, sci-fi/fantasy action, some sensuality, and language including sex references
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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