R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned Blu-ray Movie Review

Bugs Bunny meets Ghost Rider...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 8, 2023

Huh. Who woulda thought? A bit of backstory. Reviewers at Blu-ray.com rely on a chart built from a complex algorithm. Essentially, it lists each reviewer's assigned titles and places them in order, from most in demand to least, so that, at a quick glance, we can determine which release in our stack should be our next review. It's all very proprietary in nature, so no more details than that. But today I went to the chart, curious what would next pop up at the top of my list. And... R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned? Yup. For whatever reason (possibly its low pricepoint), the direct-to-video prequel to a nutters action/comedy that precisely no one loved is, according to the almighty Algorithm, the thing you'd like me to review next. So, quick trip to my back room, pop open a box or two, find an old screener I thought I'd never have time to get to and... eureka! On to Rise of the Damned we go. Side note: I am non-plussed.

Set in the American West of 1876, 'R.I.P.D.2: Rise of the Damed' is a prequel/spiritual sequel to 2013's 'R.I.P.D.' Sheriff Roy Pulsipher (Jeffrey Donovan) isn't too thrilled about finding himself dead after a shoot-out with a notorious outlaw gang, but he does get a second chance to return to earth after being recruited by the R.I.P.D. (Rest In Peace Department). But avenging his own murder may have to take a back seat to saving the world when a gateway to hell is opened in the old mining town of Red Creek threatening not only the locals but all of humanity itself. Directed by Paul Leyden ('Chick Fight') and written by Leydon and Andrew Klein (TV's 'MacGyver'), the film also stars Penelope Mitchell ('Hellboy', 'Star Trek: Picard') as fellow avenging angel Jeanne, Rachel Adedeji and Evlyne Oyedokun as the human avatars people perceive when interacting with Roy and Jeanne, Jake Choi as Slim Samuels, familiar character actor Richard Brake as baddie Otis Claiborne, Tilly Keeper as Roy's betrothed daughter Charlotte Pulsipher, and Kerry Knuppe as the dark Hano.

Rise of the Damned announces itself as a live-action cartoon early and often; early being the moment Roy, literally exiting a portal disguised as an outhouse upon arriving on Earth in a new body, steps out into the path of a single-file buffalo stampede. Spitting out bits of grass, he grabs his hat, shoves it on his head, makes some funny faces and finds himself face to face with a sun-shimmered warrior angel. You could not come up with two more diametrically opposed teammates, and yet you could because Roy and Jeanne are manufactured to be complete opposites and up the comedy. Problem is, the comedy never comes. Oh, they try, but good lawwwdy does the chicken-fried script struggle to land a joke. There's a touch of heart once Roy starts to click with Jeanne and again when he discovers his daugther is at risk of being collateral damage in his mission to stop hell from ascending on earth, but it doesn't strike home either. Rise of the Damned is as flat as its FX beasties, grasping at straws and failing to meet or surpass the first film (which was a swing and a miss all its own, despite having Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds).

I've been a sucker for Jeffrey Donovan since Burn Notice but I couldn't follow him down the R.I.P.D. rabbit hole. I appreciate his giving it his all on a Looney Toons actioner, and even respect his ability to make me believe that he believes he's making a good movie. (Which I know in my bones is untrue. The poor man had to know what he had signed onto.) But Donovan is the highlight of the film, even at his cringiest, and it only gets worse as the dead horse gets beaten again and again and again. Then dragged. Then beaten. Then shoved off a cliff. Then beaten again. Buried. Unearthed. And beaten. Rise of the Damned at least doesn't follow the roadmap of the first film. Rehash sequels are the worst. But then it also doesn't do anything new, borrowing from the likes of Men in Black and another iconic action/sci-fi comedies, albeit without the budget, effects or star power to remotely measure up in visuals, writing or tone. It's all embarrassing really, watching otherwise talented actors grin, mug and growl at one another, all the while knowing, deep down, that none of it is working.

R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned has the distinct digital sheen and cable channel-production flatness of a low budget direct-to-video sequel, and Universal's 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer doesn't offer anything to improve matters. Still, this is the film as shot and intended, so there's little to be disappointed about. Some crush and banding are present, noise and softness haunts CG elements in the movie's climax, and darker scenes are sometimes too murky for their own good. But overall the presentation shines. Colors are vivid and lifelike on the whole, black levels are deep and inky (minus a few underground shots that stop just shy of pure black), and contrast is vibrant and pretty consistent. Detail is also nice and crisp, with razor sharp edges and exacting fine textures.

R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is a technically proficient mix. If you're at all familiar with big-studio, low-budget direct-to-video fare, though, you know that just as the visuals have a "cheapness" to them, so too does the sound design. Rise of the Damned doesn't sound bad, it simply doesn't have the nuanced subtleties to its soundfield or chest-thumping weight to its LFE output that you would get from one of its bigger budget, theatrically released brothers. Still, no major complaints. Dialogue is clear and adequately prioritized. Music fills out the experience with brightness and pop, spreading its fun throughout the channels. Rear speaker activity is playful and assertive, despite being rather thin and two-dimensional at times. Likewise, low-end support is solid and even aggressive when called upon, even if it doesn't feature the roundness and heft that makes loud booms and thooms more convincing. All told, the lossless track rounds out a strong AV presentation.

R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray relesse of RIPD 2: Rise of the Damned doesn't include any special features. Which comes as absolutely no surprise whatsoever.

R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned rides into town, tips its hat, cracks a bad joke and rides right back out. It doesn't overstay its welcome but it also isn't an enjoyable visit. At all. This one should've stayed shelved and never been greenlit. How anyone thought a direct-to-video sequel to an already derided sci-fi/action-comedy jaunt would be a win is beyond me. Universal's Blu-ray release at least looks and sounds the part, though, thanks to a strong AV presentation. There's no bonus content to speak of but it probably won't be missed. If you're searching for a braindead genre pic at a low price, maybe you'll find something here I missed. Otherwise, seek thy claim elsewhere, stanger.