Review of Batman Forever (1995) by Jeff B — 06 Apr 2016

Regressing superhero flicks back to the days of candy-colored camp, the slapsticky and recast Batman Forever sports a title that's quite apt seeing as it begins a once-edgy franchise's slow demise. Americans keep saying some historic gaffes will never happen again. But then the Iraq War follows Vietnam. And then 9/11 follows Pearl Harbor. And then Batman Forever follows Batman starring Adam West and Burt Ward. Granted, the Caped Crusader's '60s TV adventures hold a special place in pop culture but this trippy production was a White Buffalo in the Zeitgeist. In Batman Forever, this same tone just plays out like a cartoon aimed at grade schoolers. Directing the movie as if it's a music video with quick edits, tilted angles, and garish sets, Joel Schumacher presents the gaily dressed heroes and villains such that they're always ready to break into a song and dance routine...and, sadly, not even the Batusi.

In this poor excuse of a PG-13-rated sequel, Batman (Kilmer) must battle Two-Face (Jones) and The Riddler (Jim Carrey) with help of an amorous psychologist (Nicole Kidman) and a young circus acrobat who becomes his sidekick, Robin (Chris O'Donnell).

While Tim Burton uses cartoonish elements to his advantage (his Dark Knight films are, after all, based on funny books aimed at general audiences), Schumacher goes full cartoon. As camptastic as the splashy ABC series that gave adult viewers a chuckle and young viewers some Bam! Pow! Zap! action proves to be in retrospect, the miscalculated Batman & Robin achieves the same end, which is highly unfortunate given that the character is a psychologically scarred vigilante. Val Kilmer does a fine job, but even the greatest acting in the world can't take away from the fact that Batman Forever takes the series in a needlessly silly direction.

Bottom line: Utility Belted.