Comic book movies don’t seem to be in short supply, and there’s even quite a few hitting theaters that people may not realize are actually based on comics to begin with. R.I.P.D. comes from a Dark Horse Comics mini-series that (from my recollection) came and went pretty fast, but apparently was appealing enough for Hollywood to take notice. The similarities to MEN IN BLACK are rather obvious (a film series few realize was also based on a comic book), but the wacky action looks rather fun. We don’t see Kevin Bacon in the trailer, who is apparently the bad guy, but we do get plenty of Jeff Bridges (who appears to be almost right off the TRUE GRIT set here) and Ryan Reynolds in supernatural hijinks. I’m reserving judgement at the moment, but I’m already hearing advance footage screenings are testing well. Take a look for yourself and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
R.I.P.D. is directed by Robert Schwentke and stars Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon, Stephanie Szostak, Mary-Louise Parker, Marisa Miller, Mike O’Malley, James Hong and Robert Knepper.
SYNOPSIS: Based on the Dark Horse mini-series, “R.I.P.D.” (short for “Rest In Peace Department”) is Peter Lenkov’s comedic amalgam of the police and zombie genres featuring two dead police officers whose job it is to help the dead “rest in peace.”
R.I.P.D. is set to hit 2D and 3D theaters on July 19, 2013.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
