Batman Forever

What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Ed Grant

In BATMAN FOREVER, Dick Grayson (Chris O'Donnell) discovers that his family was killed by evil villain Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones), and the young man becomes Batman's (Val Kilmer) crime-fighting partner, Robin. The Dynamic Duo has their hands full when Two-Face teams up with The Riddler (Jim Carrey), who wants revenge against Bruce Wayne and also sets out to unmask Batman. The Caped Crusaders meet another formidable match in sultry psychiatrist Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman). The cast also features Drew Barrymore as Two-Face's girlfriend, Sugar, and Ed Begley, Jr. as the manager of Bruce Wayne's company.

Is It Any Good?

The third entry in the live-action movie series avoids the grim tone of its predecessors and Val Kilmer makes a heroic Caped Crusader, but this third installment in the series is more interested -- unfortunately -- in the ridiculous villains. Younger viewers will become restless during the dramatic moments, which are simply prolonged interludes between the numerous action sequences. The entire movie, in fact, seems to resemble a video game, thanks to an emphasis on bright colors, grandiose settings, and repetitive fight scenes.

Though younger kids may not warm to Robin's tired teen-rebel pose, director Joel Schumacher emphasizes O'Donnell's sex appeal for those who are interested. Val Kilmer physically suits the role of Bruce Wayne better than his predecessor Michael Keaton, but the superhero is still the same driven yet dreary soul of the first two movies. Operating at full throttle, as always, are the movie's villains. Tommy Lee Jones transforms the fascinating Two-Face into a mere Joker clone, while Jim Carrey offers his usual hyperkinetic shtick as The Riddler.