R.I.P.D.

Right now you can watch R.I.P.D. In Australia on BINGE and Foxtel Now, and in the US on Netflix — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Jeff Bridges is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on BINGE.

There is a reason R.I.P.D. Keeps coming up in conversation. R.I.P.D. Gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. A recently slain cop joins a team of undead police officers working for the Rest in Peace Department and tries to find the man who murdered him. Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2013. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and R.I.P.D. Holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, R.I.P.D. Respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Jeff Bridges sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.