Batman and his sidekick Robin attempt to the foil the sinister schemes of a deranged set of new villains, most notably the melancholy Mr. Freeze, who wants to make Gotham City into an arctic region, and the sultry Poison Ivy, a botanical femme fatale. As the Dynamic Duo contend with these bad guys, a third hero, Batgirl, joins the ranks of the city's crime-fighters.
Of all modern Batmans, George Clooney bears the closest physical resemblance to the comic-book hero, but there isn't much to say about his performance because there isn't much performance to discuss.
– Joe Morgenstern,
Wall Street Journal,
18 Jun 2014
rotten:
The movie has its entertaining flashes, but there's too much bat-jive and bat-hokum.
– Michael Wilmington,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jun 2014
rotten:
In terms of new twists or narrative momentum. Poison Ivy, the sinuous villainess, is the only relief from the onslaught of spoofy humor, special effects and meaningless comic book mayhem.
– Rita Kempley,
Washington Post,
18 Jun 2014
rotten:
[A] loud, long and pointless spectacle.
– Steven Rea,
Philadelphia Inquirer,
18 Jun 2014
rotten:
Batman & Robin won't kill the popular series, but it ought to slow it down a tad.