Overstuffed sequel, barely any Batman

Rating: 5/10 (6 May 2019)

After re-watching the original 1989 Batman I came away lukewarm about it. It's a classic, but not one that has aged well.
Watching Returns right after the 1989 movie...I now appreciated the 1989 movie much more as Returns is a tough watch.
For a movie called Batman Returns, the titular character is nowhere to be seen for 80% of the movie. The plot focuses way too much on Penguin and Catwoman. Our caped crusader has essentially no focus at all. A majority of his time is the romance with Selina/Catwoman and even those moments aren't building up to any kind of meaningful depth.
The visuals are as stellar than ever and the practical effects aren't too shabby. Keaton still has a bit of the neck issues with the suit, but overall the effects are really good.
As with the first, the script here is just the main issue here. The rest of the parts of the movie are already great, it's just the script that really puts all of the rest of the production to waste. Though the lack of sets kind of cheapens the feel. It felt like there were only 3 different locations in the whole movie. It makes the scope of the movie seem way too small.
There's never really much going on and when there is, it's not very well established or crafted. Scenes just kind of happen without warrant and rarely add anything to the plot.
There's also way too many plot holes or too unbelievable moments. I mean how the hell do Penguin's goons get the schematics for the Batmobile? Why are there NO cops anywhere to stop the Penguin's circus train from driving in the night? Why does Batman have his logo all over everything? Just things there and there that just make zero sense thematically.
The performances are solid. DeVito is good, but the script makes him a little too horny and creepy. I don't know how they allowed any of the innuendos in it. They were super obvious and not smartly hidden and even as adult they were just gross and creepy. He was already creepy enough on his own without him joking about humping Catwoman.
It's just a movie that is all over the place. It's got a poor script and some really questionable moments. It just falls flat overall. It's probably for the best that Burton didn't do anymore, but then again we got the so bad they're funny Schumacher movies.