Batman Returns wants to be darker than the first film, and mostly succeeds. Tim Burton directs with his usual visual flair, and the cast sells the oddity of the world. But the plot strains under its ambition, and the comedy moments land unevenly.
Trailer, via DC.
Catwoman’s Origin
Michelle Pfeiffer carries the film as Selina Kyle, a worker who becomes Catwoman after a fall into a vat of chemicals. Her performance is sharp, and her scenes with Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne crackle with tension. This is the movie’s strongest thread.
The Penguin subplot, led by Danny DeVito, is where the film stumbles. DeVito is unhinged, but his schemes feel thin. The film tries to make him both tragic and evil, and the balance never settles.
Tone Trouble
The tone shifts from horror to romance to comedy, sometimes within a scene. That mix can work, but here it just feels scattered. The jokes about Wayne Enterprises and the rich falling apart miss their mark, and the film’s central villain lacks the menace the story promises.
Burton’s direction is still striking. The Gotham City sets are dense and dark, and the transformation scenes are genuinely unsettling. The music swells at the right moments, even when the script doesn’t support it.
What Works Best
- Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance as Catwoman.
- The chemistry between Pfeiffer and Keaton.
- The set design and visual style.
- The opening scenes of Selina Kyle’s fall.
What Falls Short
- The Penguin plot’s thin schemes.
- The tonal shifts that confuse more than they entertain.
- The jokes about the rich falling apart.
Batman Returns is a solid, flawed entry in the franchise. Its best ideas are excellent, and its worst ideas are obvious. Fans of Burton’s earlier work will find plenty to enjoy, but newcomers might wonder why the film can’t commit to a single tone.
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