Batman Returns (1992)

 

After Tim Burton made the first 'Batman' a tremendous success, it stood to reason that he would also get to direct the follow-up. And yet, there is a clear tonal shift between the first one and the second. Whereas the first one is clearly a Batman-film with Tim Burton-overtones, this one is a Tim Burton-film with Batman-overtones. It doesn't always work that well.

It's several years after the events of the first one, and all of a sudden, Gotham has news about some mutant penguin-man living in the sewers. Not only that, but a circus gang is terrorizing the streets. And if that wasn't enough, businessman Max Shrek wants to build a new powerplant that is not really a powerplant. 

Oh yes, and there is Batman too. 

The Penguin turns out to be real and supposedly looking for his parents, but Batman isn't having any of it. It will turn out he is right. Shrek doesn't get his powerplant, so he wants to use Penguin to supplant the mayor. He also killed his secretary Selina Kyle, even though she isn't dead and turns into Catwoman. 

Are you seeing why this one isn't as good as the first one? 

The design is still great, even though it is a lot more along the lines of a purebread Burton and less of a gothic Batman. Heck, Batman is hardly in this film anyway. This one focuses most of its time on the Penguin. Not a terribly bad idea, certainly because Penguin is played by Danny DeVito, who does a great job as the malformed malcontent. But three villains in one film is a little too much and the film does suffer for it. It lacks focus and at times will seem a jumbled mess. Christopher Walken as Max Shrek is fine, albeit his hairdo is so ridiculous, you can wonder what the hell they were thinking. 

Michelle Pfeiffer does shine as Catwoman though. Sure, she might be a little too kinky at times, but it works. And truth be told: this is the first time I have ever found Michelle Pfeiffer appealing. I know she is a great actress, but I never saw the 'sexiness' in her. Well, colour me surprised here. They do play up that she and Batman are pretty much two of a kind, which makes for a very cool scene at a masked ball late in the film. But that Catwoman so easily switches between wanting to kill Batman to wanting to bang Batman is a little odd. 

Oh, and the finale with the penguins that have funny helmets and rockets strapped to their backs is just, well... bizarre. 

That might be the best way to describe this one: 'bizarre'. It feels a little disjointed at times and using three villains is overdoing it just a tad. Also, because Burton clearly was given more free reign, it lacks a clear direction and wants to be too many things at once. It is not a bad film, but it needed a stronger narrative. But if you like Tim Burton when he is at his more quirky, this one will provide plenty of entertainment.