The caped crusaders made their heroic return in the decidedly campy fourth installment of the highly successful Batman film franchise, 1997s Batman and Robin. This time the lead role would go to the newest actor to carry the keys to the batmobile, hunky heartthrob George Clooney and Chris O’Donell would play his ever-faithful teenaged assistant. Together they would take on the icy villain, Mr. Freeze and a seductive plant/woman hybrid named Poison Ivy to once again save the world from utter destruction.

The film begins as former scientist, Dr. Victor Fries, now going by the moniker, Mr. Freeze, is in the process of robbing the diamonds of Gotham City, which he needs to power his giant freeze-ray. It just so happens that not only does Mr. Freeze have to keep his body frozen to survive, but if he ever wants to be reunited with his equally sub-zero wife, the only solution is to freeze the earth. A battle ensues between the cold blooded jewel thief and the dynamic duo, but Mr. Freeze manages to slip away in his rocketship.

Meanwhile, down in the warm sub-tropic temperatures of South America, a botanist named Dr. Pamela Isley has managed to merge with one of her specimens and become the human houseplant Poison Ivy, a villain whose seductive allure is irresistible to the opposite sex, thanks to her exotic perfume fragrance, but whose lips are fatally poisonous. She manages to capture the affection of both Batman and Robin and touch off a rivalry between the two, while also developing a mutual partnership with Mr. Freeze. If she can aid him in his evil plot to destroy the world, her and plants can take over the barren surroundings.

And if that weren’t enough characters, the motorcycle riding Barbara arrives at Wayne matter to take care of her dying uncle Alfred and help around the house. Upon discovering the hidden identities of her hosts, she informs them that she wants in on the crime-fighting action and earns her own secret identity, that of the feisty mask and cape wearing Batgirl. The trio of bat buddies manage to save the world in an epic battle at Gotham Observatory, and once again, good triumphs over evil in a cold war for a new generation.

Although Batman and Robin didn’t enjoy the same success as its three predecessors, it still managed to do quite respectfully internationally. With a health does of campy comedy, the Herculean villain played by future Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and plenty of colorful action, Batman and Robin still managed to warm the hearts of dedicated fans of the franchise and keep the legend of Batman alive, fighting evil wherever it might lurk.