The reviews are divided over Batman Returns, though praise repeatedly centres on the villains and Tim Burton’s gothic approach to Gotham. Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman draws approval even from critics who find the film oppressive or emotionally thin, while Danny DeVito’s Penguin earns particular admiration among its supporters. The favourable reviews value Burton’s willingness to make the sequel grotesque, sexually charged and funny, rather than treating its comic-book material with solemn respect.
The sharpest disagreement concerns whether that approach produces enjoyable entertainment. The New York Times finds the film sprightly and droll, with its villains receiving the richest treatment. The Los Angeles Times finds the same dark vision claustrophobic and oppressive, with Pfeiffer providing the sole bright spot. Elsewhere, reservations cluster around muddled storytelling, shallow characters and action that becomes tiring; supporters find enough humour and invention to make the grotesquerie pleasurable.