
Taking the reins from producer Tim Burton, director Joel Schumacher provides a visual style at times more reminiscent of “Dick Tracy” than Burton’s “Batman” in its explosions of vibrant color.Those hues signify a conscious decision to make this third adventure more light-hearted and humorous. In the resulting mayhem, some may wistfully recall the relatively modest Batman/Joker chords running parallel through the first movie - still the best of the lot. Such a glut of above-the-title stars presents a major creative challenge - what with juggling two villains while introducing Robin and a femme lead - and the strain shows. Casting has cleverly been calibrated to attract certain demographic constituents: Jim Carrey providing his brand of lunacy for juveniles, Chris O’Donnell solidifying his teen heartthrob credentials, adult love interest Nicole Kidman, and Tommy Lee Jones as a bad guy more recognizable to older folks.
