Batman Forever (1995) - Movie Review

Batman Forever - Maybe He Shouldn't Be Forever Though

Rating - 2/10

“Joygasm!”

    Batman Forever is a loud swirl of neon energy that never fully understands what makes Gotham compelling. It tries to be fun, colorful, and exciting, yet it ends up feeling like a confused transition between the darker Burton era and the chaotic camp of what would come next. The tone wobbles from scene to scene, never settling on anything coherent, and the movie leans so heavily into spectacle that it forgets to build an engaging world or meaningful story.

    Val Kilmer steps into the role of Batman and gives a performance that is serviceable but ultimately flat. There is very little emotional weight behind his version of Bruce Wayne, and the character lacks the presence that earlier and later versions would bring. Chris O’Donnell struggles as Robin, mostly because the script gives him very little to work with. Their dynamic should be the heart of the movie, yet it feels rushed and underdeveloped.

    The villains are where the film finds its only spark. Jim Carrey goes all in as the Riddler with manic energy that is at least entertaining to watch. He treats the character like a cartoon and somehow keeps the movie from collapsing under its own silliness. Tommy Lee Jones, on the other hand, seems wildly miscast as Two Face, leaning into over the top antics without any grounding or menace. It becomes clear that the movie wanted big, memorable villains but misunderstood what makes Batman foes interesting in the first place.

    Visually, the film tries so hard to be exciting that it becomes exhausting. The glowing sets, busy action scenes, and constant noise make the movie feel like a theme park ride designed without any sense of restraint. While it is not as notoriously disastrous as Batman and Robin, it still lands firmly on the lower end of Batman adaptations because it lacks focus, tone, and depth.

    Batman Forever ends up being a glossy but hollow entry in the franchise. Jim Carrey provides a few bright moments, but the movie never figures out how to balance its campy style with meaningful storytelling.