When supervillains Catwoman (Newmar), Joker (Bergman), Penguin (Salyers), and Riddler (Wingert) team up, the city of Gotham turns to the caped crusaders Batman (West) and Robin (Ward) to save the day. The criminals steal a duplicator ray and return to their lair. When the Dynamic Duo track them down, Catwoman scratches Batman with "batnip" in order to turn him evil.
Batman seems unaffected by the batnip and they evade the trap of the supervillains. As Batman and Robin try to find and capture the quartet, Batman begins to show more aggression. Can they save Batman and Gotham from the the machinations of their foes?
This film is an animated sequel/continuation to the 1966-1968 Batman TV series.
The Good:
The film keeps the look, feel, and sensibilities of the 1960s show. Three original cast members Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar reprise their roles, while the other characters have new voice actors. The costumes and mannerisms of the characters follow the portrayal from the show. The tone is light, while also giving Batman a chance to go darker. It is still a mostly comic take, which is in stark contrast to the dark and gritty tone of modern Batman films.
The film also features the rogues gallery from the show: Bookworm, King Tut, Shame, Siren, etc. While most of the characters do not say much (and their original actors are deceased), Wally Wingert's Riddler sounds like Frank Gorshin's take on the character.
The Bad:
The actors voicing Joker and Penguin sound slightly off, they have the iconic laughs of Cesar Romero and Burgess Meredith, down, but not the exact voices. Aunt Harriet is annoying and off-putting, she is snarky and winking at the audience. I didn't love the character in the show, but here she is unbearable.
Other Comments:
-Stick around to watch Batman and Catwoman dance to the music while the end credits role.
-Watching the 1960s TV is not a prerequisite, but you will definitely get more of the in-jokes and callbacks.
-In the 1960s, Catwoman was portrayed by 3 actresses: Julie Newmar (seasons 1-2 of the show), Lee Meriwether (Batman: The Movie), and Eartha Kitt (in season 3). Each had a slightly different, but equally iconic, take on the character. This film features a nod to these women when Batman is knocked on the head and sees triple Catwoman who look like Newmar, Meriwether, and Kitt.
-Where is Batgirl? Yvonne Craig died in 2015, but it is disappointing that there is no nod or reference to her or Batgirl in this film.
-This film did well enough to get a sequel in 2017, Batman vs. Two Face.
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016)
Director: Rick Morales
Starring: Adam West as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Burt Ward as Dick Grayson / Robin
Julie Newmar as Catwoman
Jeff Bergman as Joker, Announcer
William Salyers as Penguin
Wally Wingert as Riddler
Jim Ward as Commissioner Gordon
Steven Weber as Alfred
Thomas Lennon as Chief O'Hara
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