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Batman & Robin: The franchise fadeth
July 2, 1997
Web posted at: 2:18 p.m. EDT (1818 GMT)From Reviewer Carol Buckland
(CNN) -- "Batman & Robin" nose-dived 65 percent at the box office during its second weekend in release, proving that the Caped Crusader can do a lot of cool stuff, but he can't outrun bad word of mouth.
"Batman & Robin" is an underwhelming overproduction. I staggered out of it feeling as though I'd been battered about the skull by a pig's bladder.
Excerpt of trailer:
1.3M/29 sec. QuickTime movie
Entire trailer:
The storyline is ... essentially immaterial. On the hero front, it pits Batman and Robin against Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman). He's a mad scientist bent on world domination and other evil stuff. She's a Spandex-clad temptress whose kiss packs a lethal punch.
On the home front, there's family problems. Robin (Chris O'Donnell) is whining about his sidekick status. Billionaire Bruce Wayne's girlfriend (Elle Macpherson) is bemoaning his inability to commit. Alfred the Butler (and keeper of the Batsuit) is dying.
Who cares? Akiva Goldsman's script is campy, cartoonish, and boring. What psychological complexities this franchise once possessed have been flattened to a pulp thanks to director Joel Schumacher's too-much-is-not-enough approach.
While George Clooney doesn't disgrace himself as Batman, he doesn't distinguish himself either. He's very blah as Bruce Wayne. Guess we'll have to wait till "The Peacemaker" to see if he can carry a movie.
O'Donnell is cute, but his character has become very irritating. While he clicks with Clooney better than with Val Kilmer, that's not saying much.
Schwarzenegger is ... Schwarzenegger. But he seems curiously diminished by this production. He's basically a plastic action figure come to life.
Alicia Silverstone is a disappointment as Batgirl. She acts pouty, looks puffy and exudes little of the screen appeal she brought to "Clueless."
Thurman brings some genuine wit to her role as Poison Ivy. She also looks diabolically swell. Unfortunately, many of the lines she has to spout are sleazy double-entendres.
Bring back the Dark Knight! Let Batman be Batman! And if you haven't already seen "Batman & Robin," count yourself lucky and stay home.
"Batman & Robin" is rated PG-13 for cartoonish violence and sexual innuendo.
- CNN In-Depth: Showbiz
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- Holy batcapers! Director lures big names to sinister roles - June 21, 1997
- Holy batjunk! - June 20, 1997
Related sites:
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- Batman & Robin - official site
- Batman and Robin - Special Section from EW On-line
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