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The Legacy of Batman & Robin Does Not Suck (Even though the Movie Does)

"Batman & Robin," the absolute worst sequel in the "Batman" franchise, was rightly derided and lambasted upon its release in the summer of 1997. Few would argue that the film, on its own, is a cinematic turd. But, in a twist that would confound even the wiliest of Batman's foes, the fallout from "Batman & Robin" hasn't been nearly as bad as the initial horror. In fact, a closer look reveals that pop culture actually owes an enormous debt to this stunningly awful film.

Let's consider the evidence. The failure of "Batman & Robin" prompted Warner Bros. to put the brakes on the "Batman" series. This allowed cooler (and smarter) heads to examine the Dark Knight from a better perspective. No more rubber nipples. No campy nonsense. No Batgirl. Instead, the powers that be hit the reset button and turned their attention to the genesis of Batman. During an eight-year hiatus, many wondered if we'd ever see another "Batman" flick -- and for a while there, the entire franchise seemed to be in a coma. But in 2005, a talented young director (Christopher Nolan, "Memento") teamed with a charismatic new lead (Christian Bale) to deliver a stellar retelling of the Batman mythology: "Batman Begins."

But let's pause a moment to consider what life would have been like if "Batman & Robin" had merely been a so-so film. Warner Bros., seeing that its formula of camp and nipples continued to bring in mad bling, would have stayed the course. Joel Schumacher would have remained as director. George Clooney and Chris O'Donnell may have stuck around for another go. Alicia Silverstone ... well, even under the best of circumstance it's unlikely Batgirl would have reappeared (no fault of Alicia's, mind you; Batgirl was just a really bad idea). On and on it would continue -- camp, nipples, more camp, more nipples. You get the idea. Only an historic failure could have brought the misguided but lucrative "Batman" franchise to its knees. That confluence of history and failure -- something that absolutely needed to happen if the "Batman" series could ever hope for redemption -- occurred exactly 30 seconds into the first screening of "Batman & Robin." Rarely has failure ever been so glorious.

Clooney's Uncaped Crusade

By itself, "Batman & Robin's" role in saving the "Batman" franchise is worthy of respect, but the film also figured significantly into the career trajectory of George Clooney. When Clooney strapped on the Bat Nipples in 1997, he was already well known for his featured role on "ER" (and his less flashy roles on "Roseanne" and "The Facts of Life"). But "Batman & Robin" was a crossroads for Clooney. If the film did well, he'd have himself a plum role in a bankable franchise. But if the film tanked, Clooney would have to reconsider his options.

Fortunately, the film tanked. I say "fortunately" because the path Clooney has taken post-Batman has led to some of the most interesting, most entertaining films in the last decade. Highlights include "Out of Sight," "Three Kings," "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," "Ocean's Eleven," "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," "Syriana," and "Good Night, and Good Luck." Oh sure, stinkers still popped up -- "Intolerable Cruelty" was lame -- but Clooney's decisions in the "Batman & Robin" aftermath seem to have been guided by artistic desire rather than pure commerce. Was "Batman & Robin" the catalyst? It's hard to pin this entire conclusion on the Batman debacle, but a scan of Clooney's pre- and post-Batman filmography certainly gives credence to the thought.

Alas, the lineage of "Batman & Robin" turns sour when attention shifts from Clooney. O'Donnell's highlight was ... well, he didn't really have one (unless you count "Vertical Limit," which you shouldn't). Schumacher has been all over the place -- hitting with "Tigerland," missing badly with "8MM" (a film that may very well be worse than "Batman & Robin"). Of the film's other major stars, Uma Thurman struck paydirt with the "Kill Bill" films, but that likely would have happened regardless, and Arnold Schwarzenegger took up residence in the California Governor's mansion -- a topic that extends beyond the scope of this piece (and, when you think about it, beyond the scope of all reason and comprehension).

Despite the marginal success of "Batman & Robin's" cast (minus Clooney, of course), the legacy of "Batman & Robin" is distinctly positive. Eight years ago, no one could have anticipated a direct connection between a smoking pile of superhero dung and the creative renaissances of both an actor and a franchise. It's not too shabby at all, especially for a film no one will ever willingly watch again. -- Mac Slocum

Writer's Note: This piece is written with the tip of my tongue nestled only slightly in my cheek cavity. I really do think there's something to this "Batman & Robin" nonsense -- but then again, those rubber nipples screwed me up real bad.

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Posted by Mac on March 19, 2006 1:02 AM
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