Batman & Robin is a 1997 film starring George Clooney as Batman, Chris O'Donnell returning as Robin and introducing Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone), a niece of Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred (Michael Gough). Michael Gough and Pat Hingle (Commissioner Gordon) are the only two people to feature in all four of the original Batman films. The villains in this movie are Poison Ivy, played by Uma Thurman; Mr. Freeze, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger (who received top billing for this film); and Bane, played by Jeep Swenson. This is the final film continuity-wise in the original Batman movie franchise (1989–1997), as the franchise's story was re-imagined with 2005's Batman Begins directed by Christopher Nolan.
Plot
The film opens with Batman (George Clooney) and Robin (Chris O'Donnell) preparing for action. Batman and Robin arrive at a museum and encounter Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his gang, who steal a diamond and get away. The scene changes, and botanist Pamela Isely (Uma Thurman) is working under Dr. Jason Woodrue (John Glover). Pamela is changed physically and mentally when a shelf of poisons topples on her. She kills Woodrue and proceeds to Wayne Labs in Gotham City with Bane, a hulking monstrosity. At Wayne Manor, Alfred Pennyworth's (Michael Gough) niece, Barbara Wilson (Alicia Silverstone), makes a surprise visit and is invited by Bruce Wayne to stay until she goes back to school. That night, when she's talking to Alfred, it's explained that her parents died in a car accident. Later that night, Batman and Robin appear at a ball that showcases another diamond. Freeze bursts in and attempts to steal the diamond, but before he can get away, Batman captures him along with the diamond. However, Batman and Robin have a falling out after Batman did not let Robin come along with him to capture Freeze.
Freeze, who has been imprisoned in a chamber within Arkham Asylum, is rescued by Ivy as she disposes of two police guards by giving them her deadly kiss and they escape from the prison. Hearing the news, Batman and Robin rush to Freeze's hideout, only to find that he's no longer there. They enter a room where Freeze's wife is being held and learn about her disease. During a confrontation with Bane, Ivy uses the distraction to attempt to seduce both Batman and Robin. Though Ivy comes close to seducing Robin and kissing him, Batman reveals Ivy's deadly ability. Robin then becomes frustrated with Batman and starts a fight with him. During their argument, Ivy and Bane manage to escape. Before escaping from the factory, Ivy, after being asked by Freeze to rescue his wife, disconnects the cryogenic chamber because she believes she is the dominant woman in Freeze's life. At Ivy's hideout, she is confronted by Freeze concerning the whereabouts of his wife. Ivy informs him that Batman killed her by shutting off her life-supporting chamber, thus resulting in Ivy and Freeze teaming up and in planning to destroy Gotham along with the rest of the world.
In the sky a Robin signal appears, made by Ivy when she and Bane stole the Bat-Signal from the police headquarters. Witnessing this, Wayne informs Dick about Ivy's true intentions and asks him to trust him. Robin locates the signal and asks Ivy about Freeze's plans. Ivy reveals Freeze's plans and finally manges to kiss Robin. Robin reveals that he's wearing rubber lips, making him immune to the toxic effects of her kiss which enrages Ivy. She angrily traps Robin, followed by Batman, who appears shortly thereafter. As Ivy tries to run-off, she is confronted by a young, costumed girl who appears and begins a fight with Ivy. The fight ultimately ends with Ivy getting trapped by giant leaves. Shortly after, Batman and Robin both escape from their traps. The girl, dressed in a female version of the Batsuit, informs them that she's Batgirl and reveals that she's Barbara and knows the location of the Batcave. The three of them decide to go after Freeze together. By the time they get to the lab where Freeze and Bane are, Gotham is completely frozen. Batgirl and Robin have a confrontation with Bane, in which ends with Robin pulling the tube off Bane's mask and releasing the venom, turning him back to the scrawny man that he was.
Batman and Freeze begin to fight each other, with Freeze still thinking that Batman was the one who killed his wife. Batman wins the fight, as Batgirl and Robin unfreeze Gotham. Batman shows Freeze a recording of Ivy during her fight with Batgirl; it shows Ivy telling Batgirl that she was the one who pulled the plug. Freeze is angered by the betrayal and is informed by Batman that his wife isn't dead; she's restored in cryogenic slumber and has been moved to Arkham waiting for him to finish his research. Batman proceeds to ask Freeze for the cure Freeze has created for the first stage of McGregor's Syndrome, the disease that Freeze's wife is suffering, for a friend (Alfred) who's dying. Freeze essentially atones for his misunderstanding by giving him medicine he had developed. At the manor, Batman attaches the tubes to Alfred's life support, and he, Dick, and Barbara watch on. Ivy is shown imprisoned in Arkham and Freeze walks in, informing her that he's her new cellmate and intends to make her life a living hell for almost killing his wife. The next morning, Alfred wakes up, alive and well. Everyone agrees to let Barbara stay at the mansion, and the three of them decide to work together fighting crime.
The film ends with the image of a Bat-signal, with Batman and Robin running as if appearing from the signal itself towards the camera. As their flowing capes come together, the screen fades to black and goes to the closing credits. This ending is similar Batman Forever, but this time we see a third figure running alongside – Batgirl is now part of the team.
Reception
Published financial figures indicate that the movie was made on a budget of $125 million. Batman & Robin opened at #1 at the box office, and had an opening weekend of $42,872,605 in 2,934 theaters averaging $14,612 per venue, which were two of its very few successes. However, over time, its popularity slipped, (possibly when put in competition with The Lost World: Jurassic Park, another summer film, which became a huge financial success) and the film collected only $107,325,195 domestically — less than any other Batman film — and $130,881,927 abroad, for a total worldwide gross of $238,207,122, but still covering the film's budget.
Despite its moderate box office success, the film was not critically successful. It was mocked for the poor script, and overextending the campy attitude, comprising the smirky one-liners and ludicrous stunts of its predecessor, Batman Forever. Author Mark S. Reinhart said, "The combination of Batman & Robin's terrible script, ridiculous costuming, garish sets, uninspired direction, etc. made the film into the appalling dump heap that it is". In his review of the film, critic Leonard Maltin found that "the 'story' often makes no sense" and that the "action and effects are loud, gargantuan, and ultimately numbing".
