worst Batman movie according to Metacritic, and it’s generally despised by fans for being too campy and goofy. The movie doesn’t take the characters seriously, and for a movie that takes place in a fictional city called Gotham, it’s surprisingly neon lit. And perhaps most tragically, there are nipples on the bat suit.
However it’s possible that the Joel Schumacher-directed movie doesn’t completely deserve the hate it gets, as there’s a fanbase that loves the film, and there are some fair reasons as to why. Between it’s detailed practical sets, the clever world-building, and Mr. Freeze’s surprisingly heartfelt story arc, there’s a lot to love about Batman & Robin underneath its over-the-top exterior.
Wastes No Time With Origin Stories Or Exposition
Joker, a movie that isn’t even about Batman. However, Batman & Robin goes straight in to the action, and there isn’t a single second wasted on Bruce Wayne moping around about his parents’ murders.
In fact, it might be the only time that Bruce’s parents go completely unmentioned, and none of his actions as Bruce Wayne are influenced by his sordid past. And though that might not mean much in the way of character development, it’s so refreshing.
George Clooney As Bruce Wayne
George Clooney plays Bruce Wayne in an almost optimistic manor, which is another first for the character on the big screen. At the time, Clooney was the perfect actor to play Batman, as he’s charming, charismatic, and has a great chin. And, if it was in any other movie, his performance would have been praised, but as the screenplay wasn’t up to scratch, it’s something that the Oscar winning actor can’t live down.
Even The Flash, it’d be great to see Clooney as Bruce Wayne again too.
Gotham Is So Detailed
Between the practical sets and the CGI of the buildings and giant statues, the world-building when it comes to Gotham is ittedly more in depth in Batman & Robin than in any other Batman movie.
The locations - between the museum, the science lab, and Arkham Asylum - are all so detailed and look ripped straight out of the comic books. And best of all are all of the evil lairs, as Mr. Freeze hiding in an ice-cream factory might be a little on the nose, but there’s so much going on in there.
Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy Is Iconic
It might be because Poison Ivy hasn’t been depicted in a movie ever since, but when anyone thinks of Poison Ivy, they think of Uma Thurman’s depiction in Batman & Robin. Poison Ivy was a strong character, and as theatrical as she was, she stole every scene, not to mention that she had the most memorable outfits. And she was a powerful female villain, unlike Catwoman from Batman Returns, who simply ended up being a damsel in distress who Batman had to save.
The Campy Humor Isn’t Lost On Everyone
When Batman & Robin was first released, it was reviled by critics for its "campiness." But it wasn’t as if Batman hadn’t been depicted like that in the past, as the movie is somewhat of a throwback to Adam West’s Batman TV show.
All of the camp theatrics from all the actors across the board resemble West and Burt Ward (who played Robin in the 60s), with there being several overt references to the show. And there are a lot of people who prefer that to the endlessly dark and gritty depictions that have come ever since.
It Lowkey Laid The Groundwork For A Cinematic Universe
I Am Legend, there is a hanging poster of a t Batman and Superman logo on a poster hanging in the dystopian wasteland, so Warner Bros. had been putting the feelers out there for a while.
However, the first hint of a cinematic universe was in Batman & Robin, when Batman says, “this is why Superman works alone,” after he gets frustrated with Robin. It may have been a throwaway line, but as it had never been established that the two heroes were in the same universe before, it was still exciting, regardless of the quality of the movie.
The Visuals Are Eye-Popping
Gotham doesn’t tend to be all that colorful, and the clue is even in the name, as Gotham is generally full of dark alleyways and gargoyles mounted on top of brick buildings.
However, Batman & Robin is one of the most colorful movies there is. Schumacher’s Gotham is so neon stricken with so many reds and greens, and it’s visually gratifying when the characters are racing through the streets. And even when it comes to the gangs of Gotham, they are all drenched in body paint, and it almost looks like a modern version of The Warriors.
Batman And Robin Breaking Up
Though the movie being titled Batman & Robin makes it seem like the two are working together, the movie quickly sets up that there’s trouble in paradise. Between Batman envying Superman for working alone and shutting down Robin’s motorcycle before he makes the jump when pursuing Mr. Freeze, there’s definitely some animosity there.
In addition, it seemed like the movie was setting up Robin becoming Nightwing and turning into his own vigilante in a very subtle way. Though the follow-up movie was canned, it would have been great to see a further break down in the relationship and watch Robin rebrand himself as Nightwing.
Mr. Freeze’s Story Arc
The character of Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin is generally considered a laughing stock due to the cheesy puns and Schwarzenegger’s delivery of those very puns. However, the story arc of him trying to save his wife is the emotional backbone of the whole film. The narrative was pulled from the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Heart of Ice.” And on top of the heartfelt motivation, the blue outfit Freeze wears is so visually striking too, and it again evokes the look of the 1966 version of the villain.
The Bat Family
Besides Batman & Robin - and to a lesser extent, Justice League finally saw release after years and years of development, there’s still so much more chemistry between the characters in Batman & Robin than the 2017 movie and even Zack Snyder’s 2021 rerelease.
