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RETURN TO THE BATCAVE
The Misadventures of Adam and Burt
Review by Michael Jacobson
Stars:
Adam West, Burt Ward, Frank Gorshin, Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Lyle
Waggoner, Jack Brewer, Jason Mardsen
Director: Paul A. Kaufman
Audio: Dolby Stereo
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.77:1
Studio: Anchor Bay
Features: DVD
ROM Screenplay
Length: 90 Minutes
Release Date: May 17, 2005
"This
looks like a job for...actors!"
Batman
was
something in its heyday...as a kid, I loved the show because of the action, the
heroics, and the pizzazz. When I
got older and rediscovered it, I loved it even more, because I never realized in
my youth how campy it was! Getting
the tongue-in-cheek humor and frequent innuendos was definitely more fun than
being wowed by "POW!" "WHAM!" and "BIFF!".
And
some 35 years later, the spirit of that show got revived in a made for TV movie
that Batman himself would have described as "diabolically clever".
Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt proved
there was still a lot of life in that show's premise...and also demonstrated how
much fun it could be to return to "camp".
It
stars Adam West and Burt Ward as...well, Adam West and Burt Ward.
As it starts, both TV legends are invited to a charity car show featuring
the original Batmobile. Yet some former nemesis has taken the opportunity to settle
an old score, by stealing the car right from under the caped crusaders' noses!
Determined
to get the car back in time for the orphans to arrive, Adam and Burt decide to
take matters into their own hands...and relive a few memories in the process!
As their mystery unfolds, we frequently flash back to the show, where
Jack Brewer and Jason Mardsen play the younger dynamic duo, and we learn how the
show got off the ground, became a hit, and changed the young actors' lives
forever!
West
and Ward, who have always been good sports about kidding themselves and their
most famous roles, seem to be having the time of their lives back in action.
They even get a big fight scene complete with words flying at you from
the screen...great stuff! Not to
mention a narrator to lead our heroes into the commercials...where IS that voice
coming from, and why does he sound so damned familiar?
This
movie is genius, pure and simple...it would have been easy just to make a
"True Hollywood Story" movie about the television show and leave it at
that, but concocting a whole new Bat-mystery in modern time to go along with it?
Brilliant. The fun never
stops...there are even a few classic guest stars appearing to mix it up with the
crusaders, including the still beautiful Julie Newmar and Lee Meriwether, as
well as the sadly recently-deceased Frank Gorshin.
I
chuckled like the Joker from start to finish.
I don't know who enjoyed the trip down memory lane more, me or Adam and
Burt, but one thing's for sure...I'll be returning to THIS Batcave time and time
again!
BONUS
TRIVIA: Lyle Waggoner originally
tested for the role of Batman, and some of those actual screen tests appear in
the movie!
Video
***1/2
For
a made for TV movie, this is a most impressive anamorphic transfer.
Leave it to Anchor Bay...they always manage to roll out the red carpet
for cult favorites, or cult favorites in the making.
The colors are rich and vibrant, and detail level is strong throughout. Only a bit of grain in a couple of darker settings and a
slight touch of bleeding reds here and there keep it from a perfect score, but
still, the overall effect will be better thank you expect.
Audio
**1/2
The
box says 5.1, but the audio is actually a nice stereo mix.
Dialogue is clean and clear throughout, and the bits of action and music
add a little dynamic punch.
Features
1/2*
Holy
waste of space, Batman...just a DVD ROM screenplay!
Summary:
