Batman & Robin

Make no mistake, Batman & Robin is not a good film. It's a bright, shiny, dim-witted and over-produced trifle in which the bloated size of the cast--three heroes, three villains plus a romantic interest--is just the most obvious example that director Joel Schumacher has allowed the franchise to spin out of control. However, it's hardly evil. It simply carves out a unique niche in an industry where most films are made for 17-year-old boys: it's a film made for 10-year-old boys. They'll probably love it, too, because Batman & Robin was crafted under the guiding principle that it didn't have to be good as long as it was "cool." Anyone old enough to drive, on the other hand, will find little to appreciate in Arnold Schwarzenegger's ridiculous puns or Schumacher's manic set pieces. (S. Renshaw)