In defence of - 'Batman And Robin' (1997)

On my final day of primary school in June '97, upon breaking up for the summer holidays and first year of high school just months away, my mum took my sister and I to the cinema to see a film that was premiering that night in the UK.  'Batman and Robin' was the forth live action feature-length take on the caped crusader's legend and featured George Clooney's only dual portrayal of billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne and the eponymous vigilante alter-ego.

Being no stranger whatsoever to the movie saga, even back then, I was admittedly excited.  In fact I even re-watched the previous three films that week over different nights to get in to the mood for the occasion.  And that was only under the sheer assumption we were actually going to the then-MGM cinema, a recently-opened picture house on Belfast's Dublin Road cleverly positioned next door to a Burger King outlet.

What was the output of the sequel like?  Probably similar to how one felt after a Kids Club meal, upon discovering the milkshake tasted nothing like their main competitor's.  But that's objectively speaking.  Subjectively, I liked it.  It remains a not-so guilty pleasure for me, possibly because nostalgia helps, but today I'm going to give you my reasoning why it shouldn't be hated as much as it has become.


Starting with the story presentation, let's call it for what it is and not what it isn't.  'Batman and Robin' lacks the intensity of Tim Burton's acclaimed efforts - 'Batman' (1989) and 'Batman Returns' (1992) - as well as the cerebral undercurrent of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.  On the other hand it does recall the mid-60s TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward.  Wisely omitting the comic-like action captions of 'KAPOW!' and 'BANG!', the camp storyboarding is evident from start to finish - including features of the superhero costumes which everyone has free will to close their eyes at, if it ain't their thing!

Next, the cast and context of the time.  Normally I'd argue an all-star cast can have a negative bearing on a film, however I disagree with that being the case here as the characterisation and Joel Schumacher's direction allowed egos to be reigned in.  All the names attached here really helped the film here rather than hindering it:

• In big Arnie as Mr Freeze you had an action hero icon.  His track record spoke for itself.  Now the previous winter's 'Jingle All The Way' still gives the shivers but give Schwarzanegger a sci-fi character and he's at his most comfortable

• Clooney was Mr E.R, a huge ratings draw on Channel 4 here and elsewhere internationally.  On the silver screen, he excelled as a baddie - see 'From Dusk Till Dawn' (1996) - but it was his good guy roles that had more of an appeal

• From one Tarantino project to another, Uma Thurman was Quentin's muse and gained stardom in Pulp Fiction only three years before.  Her own talents portraying a devious charm were crucial here

• Miss 'Clueless' herself Alicia Silverstone was THE all-American girl around this timeframe and, for that alone, belonged in any film she liked(!)

• Chris O'Donnell kept the continuity going from 'Batman Forever' (1995) as boy-wonder Robin and hadn't done badly himself, with a co-starring effort in 'Mad Love' (also '95) with Drew Barrymore to his credit

• Even the supporting goons played by Jeep Swenson and Tiny Lister lent some evil credibility as both had opposed Hulk Hogan across various projects

• Pat Hingle and Michael Gough are back as Commissioner Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth respectively - their forth consecutive outings in this instalment, surely to the satisfaction of long-time Batfans

• Anyone remember how popular supermodel Elle Macpherson was in the 90s?  Hot enough to bag a small part as Bruce Wayne's date, to say the least.


And let's not forget the soundtrack.  As much as I hate to mention his name in lift of recent reports, R.Kelly did once have mainstream credibility.  On the heels of that spring's 'Space Jam' (1997) for which he contributed the school bus singalong "I Believe I Can Fly", he was back here with the worthy ballad "Gotham City", sorely misplaced on the end credits but a hit nonetheless.  He wasn't Prince or U2, and will likely never come close to their levels now, but to say he hindered the movie's overall appeal would be naive at best.

One cannot forget that the Batman brand had equity.  Look at the animated series!  Look at the toy shelves.  Heck the video sales spoke for themselves.  The 1989 Jack Nicholson/Michael Keaton showdown was reportedly one of the first VHS tapes to be sold in the US as low as $9.99, and still produced bank.  Now fair enough: eight years later the DC Comic stalwart is a box-office bomb but then, why would you release a film with such potential just as the schools are breaking up?  

Having a birthday in early July, I know how hard it is to arrange a party when everyone leaves the county for a fortnight; after which the momentum is gone.  That said, I don't blame Warner Brothers for approving the budget they did.  They rightly believed in their investment and would do so again at least three more times less than a decade later.


So conclusively - and it is only my humble opinion - 'Batman and Robin' is a film that's misunderstood and has unfairly earned a rap for being one of the 'worst films ever'.  Is it he weakest part of its saga?  Probably, but it still had to be made.  Other films with all-star casts were the drizzling proverbials, such as another Clooney feature 'Ocean's Twelve' (2004), but if viewed with fun - as a let-me-up - its just as enjoyable as the rest of them.