Batman & Robin is a 1997 superhero action film and the sequel to Batman Forever, the previous film in the 90s-era Batman movie franchise. Like Batman Forever, this movie is directed by Joel Schumacher and follows the wacky escapades of the masked vigilante of Gotham City. Although it takes place in the same universe as the previous three films, George Clooney replaces Val Kilmer in the lead role of Bruce Wayne/Batman, bringing a bit of extra star-power to the cast.
As the title would suggest, Batman’s sidekick Robin (Chris O’Donnell) plays a larger role this time around, as the heroic duo fight yet another surge of crime in Gotham. By doubling down on his aloof and cartoonish tone, Joel Schumacher firmly pushes the Batman movie franchise into the realm of absurdity. Unfortunately, it rarely pays off.
How to Stream or Download Batman & Robin (1997) Full Movie Online
To stream or to download the film from a digital store of your choice, click on the Download button at the end of this review. Check out also the three preceding Batman movies that we have reviewed: Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), and Batman Forever (1995).
The Movie Review
Although some of the previous Batman movies flirted with the comedic nature of the source material, especially Batman Forever, Batman & Robin embraces an irreverent and ridiculous tone right from the very beginning. Chirping away with incessant one-liners and risque jokes, the characters of Batman and Robin quickly feel like an unintended parody. This trend continues as the film introduces its key villains, Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman).
Unlike the fantastic villains featured in previous movies, both Freeze and Ivy fail to make a positive impression, with extremely cliché motivations and woeful dialogue. In short, Freeze and Ivy have teamed up to encapsulate Gotham City in ice, allowing Freeze to hold the city ransom for billions of dollars. This scheme mostly serves as an underwhelming foundation for ridiculous action sequences, themed around Freeze’s obsession with the cold.
Between the excessively ridiculous one-liners and slapstick-quality action, Batman & Robin attempts to draw up a bit of emotion with some sub-plots focused on everyone’s favorite butler, Alfred (Michael Gough). As Alfred welcomes a visit from his young niece Barbara (Alicia Silverstone), he quickly becomes to grow weary and sick, sending the entire Wayne family into worry. However, these scenes clash with the movie’s consistently ridiculous drama, making it impossible to take them seriously.
The ridiculous script and wooden acting from most of the cast make things even worse. Where other superhero movies manage to balance the realism of everyday life with surreal heroics, Batman & Robin completely jumps the shark.
The Bottom Line
Overall, Batman & Robin tries its best to pay homage to the sillier elements of the Adam West-era Batman series, but it falls flat. The story itself is convoluted, often illogical, and packed with annoying characters.
By completely abandoning the franchise’s darker and more serious themes with a script full of puns and sexual innuendos, Batman & Robin loses all of the charm that the series once had. The action scenes deliver some mindless and occasionally comedic enjoyment, but even then, it comes with a barrage of underwhelming special effects and awkward sound design. In almost every way, Batman & Robin is a disappointment, barely cobbling together a cohesive story. It’s memorable for all the wrong reasons, leaving you either laughing or shaking your head.
