Today’s quick review: Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) face their most dangerous challenge yet when their greatest foes, the Joker (Jeff Bergman), the Penguin (William Salyers), the Riddler (Wally Wingert), and Catwoman (Julie Newmar), steal a replication ray and use it to wreak havoc in Gotham. But Catwoman has one extra trick up her sleeve and unleashes an unexpected foe on the Dynamic Duo.
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is an animated superhero comedy. A modern continuation of the classic 1960s Batman TV show, Return of the Caped Crusaders captures the campy innocence of the original while telling a new story of its own. Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar reprise their iconic roles, while Jeff Bergman, William Salyers, and Wally Wingert fill out the rest of Batman’s rogues gallery.
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders manages to seamlessly blend the tone of the original series with smart, subtle writing and modern shoutouts. The movie takes place in the stylized Gotham of the 1960s, a city of petty villains, abandoned buildings, and scrupulous law and order. Return of the Caped Crusaders is true to the spirit of show, from the profusion of Bat-gadgets to Batman’s strict moral compass.
But mixed in with the formula is an undercurrent of self-awareness that lets the film achieve a unique style of humor. The silliness of the world crosses the threshold into gentle but clever self-parody. Impressively, Return of the Caped Crusaders achieves all this without compromising the charm of the original. The tongue-in-cheek gags are played entirely straight, and the movie celebrates rather than mocks the quirks of the TV show.
Watch Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders when you are in the mood for light, cheesy, and self-aware superhero fare. The movie’s deft writing recreates the magic of the original, and its playful tone makes it an excellent breather from the serious side of the superhero genre. However, Return of the Caped Crusader’s peculiar blend of influences gives it a niche appeal; skip it if you don’t appreciate camp.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for being an entertaining, well-written tribute to a classic.