This film flies at you with "blockbuster" written all over it, from the second the Warner Bros. logo mutates into that ubiquitious bat-shape (the mere sight of which, at the screening I attended, provoked a flurry of cheers, fists in the air, and, inexplicably, a cry of "Go, girl!"-before the credits had even started) and the roller coaster ride begins. It's an apt metaphor, for Batman Forever careens from one high to the next, builds the suspense with occasional lows, progresses to an epic climax, and remembers to leave room for a sigh of relief at the end.

The highs? Jim Carrey's Riddler, hands down. Though Tommy Lee Jones puts in a valiant effort as the scarred, schizophrenic Two Face, he simply can't compete with Carrey's completely unhinged daffiness-when he's on the screen, you simply can't look at anyone else. Even Val Kilmer, ostensibly the hero as Batman/Bruce Wayne, doesn't provide much in the way of competition (though this is largely because, as usual, the villans get all the best lines).

The special effects-which effectively comprise another character in themselves-are suitably impressive, with enough clever escapes in place to keep things interesting. But one question: for a film with a multi-million dollar budget, wasn't there anyone on staff with enough skill to correct the sound mix in the first scenes, in which the bulk of Jones' dialogue is largely inaudible?

The lows? Well-the special effects. Instead of enhancing the movie, they're the heart of the movie. So the plot has to concentrate on getting from one special effect to the next, because there's not much in between to sustain your interest. In other words, the Batman series has been locked into a formula, and if Batman Forever makes enough money, they'll probably never deviate from it again.

And Nicole Kidman. In the time-honored tradition of action flicks, Kidman's Dr. Chase Meridian is dropped into the film for no other reason than to prove that our hero is a Real Man in every way. Teenage boys usually tag the scenes between the hero and his love interest the "boring bits" of a film, and in this case, they're right. Meridian is pretty, but also pretty vapid for a therapist; even Drew Barrymore, who has a five-minute role as a gangster's moll, has a spunkier character.

Meridian's scenes are also utilized to give the audience some breathing space until it's time for something to blow up again. The same goes for most of Chris O'Donnell's scenes as Batman's sidekick Robin/Dick Grayson. Robin is caught up in the fight against crime purely for reasons of revenge, a motive which underscores Batman's own dedication to fighting crime. The potential to explore each of these characters in greater depth is there, but it's not acted on. And as a result, it makes Robin's introduction into the Batman series interesting, but hardly essential; the story would work just as well without him.

Somewhere in the middle you'll find Kilmer, stepping into the Caped Crusader's black rubber outfit for the first time (and proving that the "thong" look is just as unattractive on men as it is on women). Kilmer offers further hints about Wayne's tortured past (involving a bout of repressed memory syndrome), but ultimately his character's stoic demeanor keeps you at a distance.

Definitely a mixed bag, but the pluses have an edge. Batman Forever doesn't have many surprises, but it's fun while it lasts.