Clooney rescues Batman

For all those citizens and villains of Gotham City asking, "Who is Batman?" just tell them it's George Clooney.

Clooney steps perfectly into the role of the caped crusader in Batman and Robin and brings credibility to his alter ego Bruce Wayne, which predecessors Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer lacked.

He also has a chemistry with co-star Chris O'Donnell, which is missing between Batman and Robin in Batman Forever.

O'Donnell delivers another stellar performance as Robin, but Uma Thurman and Alicia Silverstone steal the show as Poison Ivy and Batgirl. Of course they provide sex appeal, but they also prove women can thrive in the action film genre.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze character is basically Terminator with a personality and sense of humor.

Returning director Joel Schumacher successfully brings the campy nature of the '60s television series to the big screen with a '90s appeal. The only things missing are the pows and bangs that appeared on the television screen during the series.

Poison Ivy has the wittiest dialogue with references to her own action figure and the anatomically correct suits worn by Batman and Robin.

Now for the plot -- Poison Ivy sets out to divide and conquer Batman and Robin by making them rivals for her attention. She then tricks Mr. Freeze into helping her destroy life on earth so they can be the next "Adam and Evil."

The villains' mission is aided by Bane, played by Jeep Swenson, a former serial killer pumped full of steroids which give him superhuman strength. He is similar to a comic version of Jason from Friday the 13th.

Schumacher allows for some character development of Barbara Wilson/Batgirl during the movie. She becomes the costumed crime-fighter who helps find a cure for McGregor's disease, which plagues both her uncle and Bruce Wayne's faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth, played by Michael Gough.

All in all, this film is a non-stop, action-adventure extravaganza.