There's a new bad guy in Gotham City, and his name is Mr. Freeze (Schwarzenegger). Freeze is stealing large, perfect diamonds to power a devilish weapon that would freeze everything. Do-gooders Batman (Clooney) and Robin (Chris O'Donnell) have their hands full trying to handle Freeze and his ice thugs when another complication arrives. Her name is Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman), and she truly is poison.

Meanwhile on the home front, Batman's "civilian" counterpart Bruce Wayne (also Clooney) is being pressed for a commitment by his year-long girlfriend (Elle MacPherson), and Alfred the butler (Michael Gough) is not well. In fact, he's dying of a rare disorder that has no cure. Alfred's niece (Alicia Silverstone) has come to visit and to take care of him. As Alfred desperately searches for his brother (someone must carry on taking care of all these Bat people, after all), he gets weaker and weaker.

Back in the big city, Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze team up as Batman and Robin take on a new partner, Batgirl (also Silverstone). As Ivy and Freeze set about taking over the world, both Batman and Robin are having trouble keeping their minds on the job. It seems Ivy uses a perfume which makes her irresistible to men.

Will Poison Ivy give Robin that deadly kiss? Will Batman and Robin figure out Batgirl is Alfred's niece? Will Alfred die or at least find someone to take on his goofy job? Will Freeze freeze the world? As Bat, bird and girl battle the bad guys (and girls) only time will tell.

There's not much meat to this Batman & Robin

Batman & Robin offers up the series' trademark art direction, action sequences, cool gadgets and tight-fitting costumes for its title characters. Unfortunately, this fourth movie in the series offers little of interest. As directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Akiva Goldsman, this is a mighty thin addition to the Batman movies.

The success of the series has always rested on the colorful villains, and that's part of the problem. Uma Thurman is terrific as Poison Ivy, the bad botanist who has the boys fighting over her. But Arnold Schwarzenegger is a bit too cool as Mr. Freeze. He actually gives a kind of sensitive performance as he mourns his cryogenically frozen wife, but he doesn't create a very compelling villain. However, everyone knows Arnold knows how to play a villain (can you say Terminator). The problem lies solidly with the script.

As for the new Batman, Clooney does what he can but is also a victim of the script. Series veteran O'Donnell continues to be a good Robin, and Silverstone is up to the task as Batgirl. Gough's Alfred is perfect...as usual.

It's always been amazing that the Batman movies could introduce so many characters and still be a fun ride. Each movie seemed very full. Unfortunately for Batman & Robin, action, art direction and special effects can't hold up the weak script. If the series is to continue it will have to find a direction. At this point it seems more headed toward the old television show. But what's fun and colorful as a television series just won't cut it as a major film release. Perhaps that's why this effort felt so empty.