Batman Returns (1992 film)

This probably looked so much better on paper, but this spirited sequel stumbles quite a bit. It’s too long, for one thing, and while DeVito shows ample devotion to his role, his Penguin is a weak presence, someone who would have made a good side villain but suffers in the limelight. Part of me wishes this were a tighter film based around Batman stumbling onto a significant world-threatening plot while chasing Pfeiffer’s Catwoman. “Returns” is better with its smaller moments than its big ones, and maybe a film built around those strengths would have served as a worthy, better sequel.

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