Review of Batman Returns (1992) by Aaron J — 18 Aug 2017

Continuing an utter misunderstanding of the main character and combining it with complete corruptions of the villains, this follow-up is really about the latter, with the purported protagonist having very little screen time. Catwoman is the only one with an arc, so it's fortunate that she is the highlight, the Penguin suffers more, seeming to yo-yo between several versions and plotlines; DeVito tries to find some consistency in the character, but even he cannot cover over the cracks in this grotesque bizarrity. Walken's Shreck, a creation for the film, is the real villain and if he's hardly an original one he's one of the few sources of fun. Keaton is better as Wayne this time around, but the writing for his Batman is even worse than it was for his first outing in the cowl.

The movie can't decide whether to be a pantomime or a grim look at how society treats outsiders, better Burton movies manage to be both at the same time. At least there is some more substance than his first attempt in the franchise, Batman is explored a little more through his relationship with Catwoman and there's some stuff about duality, although it's pretty basic. However, taken on its own merits, within the confines of these versions of the characters, the romance works well. It results in some of the film's best lines and it's also the only reason why Batman is necessary to the story, without it he could be taken out entirely. The impressive Gotham city of the last film seems to have been replaced with something that feels like it's being filmed on a tiny budget and tiny stage and that is indicative of this sequel as a whole; it's neither bigger nor better.