Director: Boyd Kirkland
Cast: Kevin Conroy, Michael Ansara, Loren Lester, Mary Kay Bergman
Have I Seen It Before: Yes…
Did I Like It: I always dismissed it as an inferior effort to Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), and while it probably is, I was delighted by this on my recent re-watch.
I’d imagine that the generally brilliant people behind Batman: The Animated Series felt a little bit put upon to make this. The big shield folks must have given the animation department a grocery list of things that would need to be included in the film, so that it could be used as a marketing tie-in with that previous summer’s Batman & Robin (1997). Mr. Freeze (Ansara), check. The story should include not only Robin (Lester), but also Batgirl (Bergman).
And, true to form, the animation kids made a film better than what their summer tentpole could manage*. It’s a brisk, fun adventure story that veers away from the darker elements of the character, but unlike Batman & Robin, doesn’t veer into self-parody, and no one ought to be embarrassed by what’s going on.
What’s more, this film succeeds where so many—including Batman & Robin, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Birds of Prey (2020)—have failed, and gave Barbara Gordon her fair due. Barbara is the fuel for the plot, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt closer to Dick Greyson that when his entire story function is wanting to impress Barbara and go away with her for the weekend**.
*Is Mask of the Phantasm really better than either of its predecessors Batman (1989) or Batman Returns (1992)? I’m not so sure, others would say yes, and most of spent most of the years before Batman Begins (2005) insisting that Phantasm is the best Batman movie, ever. You could definitely make the case, and its definitely in the same league as those two.
**At Bruce Wayne’s (Conroy) expense, one would imagine.