R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned

I'm somewhat impartial as I did enjoy the original RIPD despite its bad reviews. However, when I heard the sequel/prequel was made, and that it was a direct market release, I wasn't expecting too much. The movie does lag at times, and certainly doesn't have the cinematic feel of the first movie. However, it's entertaining and if you're not too hard on it somewhat enjoyable. There are some very self-aware parts that tend to grind on you, but other than that, it's what you would expect from the type of movie it is. I would say it's worth looking at if you have some time and if you enjoyed the original, it's not a bad addition.

It's 1876 in the American West. Sheriff Roy Pulsipher (Jeffrey Donovan) dies in a shootout with bandits leaving behind his daughter Charlotte. In the afterlife, he is recruited by the Rest In Peace Department to fight the Deados. Jeanne (Penelope Mitchell) is his new work partner.

The first movie was almost universally panned and a box office bomb. I don't like that movie, but probably not as much as most others. I am surprised that they are making a sequel. They obviously downgraded the budget and the production. It's better than a TV movie, but sometimes it reminds me of one. I like the afterlife world, but the movie deteriorates after that. I don't like the old west world. It's too clean. It all feels fake and that's considering that I know it's all fake. The CGI is a bit of a mixed bag. The acting is also mixed. I really don't like the constant switching between the characters and their avatars. There has to be a way to fix that for the franchise. Maybe the avatars are only shown in mirrors. Mostly, I don't like this old west world and that's most of the movie.

I have been an admirer of Jeffrey Donovan ever since the Burn Notice. I have to admit that this movie is a major disappointment, and compared to the first part this one is quite boring and will likely make you fall asleep somewhere around the middle. However the part that I liked was Jeffrey Donovan's cowboy/macho performance that fits this movie perfectly, I can't shake the feeling that the rest of the cast and the movie itself just didn't match his ambitions and performance to make this movie at least a fun watch. So if you appreciate his work and some earlier roles(especially Burn Notice) give this movie a chance, if not skip it because he is the only thing worth watching here.

Not even close to being good as the first one. The jokes fall flat. They cast the wrong actors. They don't seem to own their roles. The writing is not very good at all. Slang talk was forced. I was excited when I saw this was coming out and man was I disappointed. Honestly this should of never been made. I couldn't finish the movie. They didn't use the right filters. It was too bright and too upbeat. It didn't have a that flair and magic as the first one. Me and my wife didn't enjoy it. We decided to watch the first one instead. I'm not sure what Netflix was thinking. They've been killing it lately on content.

Have no high expectations. Even if you are a hardcore fan of 1st R. I. P. D., this 2nd part will bring you down to earth. The acting is bad, the characters are more like beginners in "playing in movies" (or this is exactly how the director wanted to be like). Either way, I felt like I want to close and do something else. The story is told in a way that a toddler might like it. Tries to be funny, but it is boring actually.

There are some okay SFX that might cast a shimmer of light on the whole film but as a whole, RIPD 2, unless you're a die hard fan of RIPD 1 won't boost your confidence in the film production industry. It's like a mash between Back to the Future 3, Cyborg, The Witcher and a poor Spaghetti Western, maybe that's the point. You've been warned.

I wonder if the movie will go over 4.5. And that is being generous. Sorry but not worth your time.