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Now appearing on many ironic Christmas movie lists is Batman Returns, and that's what I watched last night. Honestly, though, the best ironic Christmas films don't feel exactly ironic. Batman Returns and Eyes Wide Shut seem more like atypically mature appreciations of the holiday. Brazil, okay, that one's ironic.
Batman Returns actually touches on some honestly Christmas themes; how do people get along with each other, how do you practice generosity in a world of heartless competition?
Both Catwoman and Penguin are genuinely sympathetic villains, out for revenge. Batman is also famously out for revenge against the criminal element but, as we see in this film, he's governed more by a sense of justice. It's important to acknowledge the reality of the pain that compels people to take vengeance before you talk to them about the wisdom of refraining from perpetuating it.
The dialogue in this movie is so fun. I love the key lines about mistletoe between Bruce and Selena. And Penguin is so wonderfully vicious. I love when he finally turns the Elephant Man line; "I am not a human being! I am an animal!"
Batman Returns is available on Max.
