Batman Forever (1995)
Batman Forever is a weird one. There's no getting around it. Joel Schumacher's 1995 outing represents such a massive tonal departure from the brooding, gothic pictures Tim Burton gave us that you almost feel like you've wandered into a completely different franchise. Gone is the dark, expressionist Gotham. In its place: neon, camp, and a colour palette that looks like it was designed by someone who'd eaten too many Skittles. And yet, somehow, I keep coming back to it. Three stars. Make of that what you will.
The thing is, Schumacher's pivot isn't necessarily wrong-headed. Leaning into a campy, pop-art aesthetic actually puts the film much closer in spirit to the beloved 90s animated series than Burton's pictures ever were. It's a different kind of Batman story, not a lesser one by default. The problem is the execution, and we'll get to that. But first, let's talk about what this film absolutely nails, because it nails quite a bit.
The cast is extraordinary. Val Kilmer, for my money, is one of the better Batmen we've had. He plays Bruce Wayne with a quiet, stoic intensity that I think gets massively underrated in the conversation about who's worn the cape best. Nicole Kidman is gorgeous and game. Tommy Lee Jones is brilliantly unhinged, a man clearly having the time of his life. And then there's Jim Carrey. Fresh off Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) and The Mask (1994), Carrey was at the absolute peak of his rubber-faced, manic-energy powers, and he brings every last scrap of that to the Riddler.
Which actually leads me to the film's most interesting missed opportunity. Watching Carrey bounce off the walls in that ridiculous green suit, you can't help but notice that his Riddler feels an awful lot like the Joker. The riddles almost feel like a footnote. If they'd stripped away the gimmick and just let Carrey play a completely unhinged, neon-clad Joker figure, I genuinely think it could've been something special. Instead, what we get is a slightly diluted version of that chaotic energy, one that doesn't quite land where it's aiming. He ends up feeling more like a Jack Nicholson impression than his own distinct threat, and that's a shame, because the raw material is all there.
The other major issue is the narrative structure, or rather the lack of it. The studio clearly tried to cram too much in: multiple origin stories, two villains, romantic subplots, psychological backstory for Bruce, a young sidekick to introduce. It's bloated in a way that starts to drag in the middle stretch, and you can feel the seams pulling apart. Compare that to the clean, focused threat in Batman, where everything is built around one central conflict, and Forever starts to look a little frantic by comparison.
And yes, the acting is hammy. Gloriously, shamelessly hammy. Jones and Carrey seem to be in a private competition to see who can chew through the most scenery before the credits roll, and there are moments where it tips from fun into exhausting. But here's the thing: I don't think the film ever pretends to be anything other than what it is. It's a big, loud, colourful popcorn spectacle that wears its silliness on its sleeve. It's not trying to be Heat (1995). It's trying to be a good time at the pictures on a Saturday afternoon, and on those terms, it largely succeeds.
Batman Forever is deeply flawed, no question. The bloat is real, the villain dynamic doesn't quite work, and it never reaches the heights it's clearly reaching for. But there's genuine warmth here, genuine spectacle, and a cast that's throwing itself into the madness with obvious enthusiasm. I won't pretend it's a great film. But I will say it's a fun one, and one that still holds a proper nostalgic place in my heart. Sometimes that's more than enough.
Three stars.
Rating: ★★★ | Year: 1995 | Watched: 2026-06-30
Where to watch
Watch in the UK
Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel · Sky Go · Now TV Cinema · HBO Max
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK · Zavvi
Watch in the US
Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel · HBO Max
Rent: Apple TV Store · Google Play Movies · YouTube · Fandango At Home
Buy: Amazon Video · Apple TV Store · Google Play Movies · YouTube
Physical: Amazon US
Affiliate disclosure: Movies With Macca may earn a small commission on purchases or subscriptions started via these links. It costs you nothing extra.
