Delayed Reaction: Batman Forever

Premise: Batman, but with more color.

 

I've been itching to get around to this movie since Joel Schumacher died. It's one of the first blockbusters I really remember the release of. I remember thinking movies just don't get any bigger than that. It had all these big stars. There was that Seal song. It was everywhere. Ever since Batman & Robin though, Batman Forever became a sort of forgotten Batman movie. The Nolan and Burton movies have pretty strong legacies. This one is mainly now known as the non-bad Schumacher movie (or even the less-bad Schumacher movie).

 

This is a lot of movie. Schumacher really approach every shot in terms of what would look the most striking. The greens and the reds all pop. Nicole Kidman almost looks fake she looks so striking. There's nothing half-assed about this movie, and I dig it.

 

I love how thoroughly unhinged Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones are. Especially Jones. When has he ever been this energetic? He's been charismatic (The Fugitive). He's been in on the joke (Men in Black). He's been light and kind (Hope Springs). When else has he ever been this...much? Honestly, I think this is the performance in the movie that has held up the best because of how unique it is. Jim Carrey followed up his legendary 1994 with the Riddler, playing very much to his strengths. The only thing less impressive about his performance vs. Jones' is that Carrey did exactly what everyone expected with the character. Not that that's a problem. I know Nicole Kidman has become one of our finest actresses and already had To Die For under her belt by 1995. In Batman Forever though, she's mainly there to look stunning. Which really does make sense for a movie that is 90% window dressing.

 

Oh yeah. And Val Kilmer. He's in it. He isn't bad in it, but it's also neither a big loss or that surprising that he didn't return for a sequel. This movie almost takes the idea that Batman/Bruce Wayne is a secondary character too far.

 

Side Thought 1: I had a lot of toy flashbacks watching this. Was this the peak moment of making a movie with the toys in mind?

 

Side Thought 2: Is anyone else really thrown off by Drew Barrymore playing Sugar in this? This is in the odd post-rehab period for her where she was still super famous but not really a star. It's fascinating tracking her career arc from here. Before Batman Forever, I hardly recognize any of her movies in the 90s. She follows this prominent but unimportant role with one of the great small roles in Scream. Co-star role in The Wedding Singer after that. By the time she's making Ever After and Never Been Kissed the next two years, her comeback is complete.

 

Verdict: Strongly Recommend