DYNAMIC DUO LOSE SOME OF THEIR 'POW!'.

Byline: - David Kronke

'RETURN TO the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt'' almost has an idea in its pointy-eared little head: couching the usual soft-sell reality of a standard-issue behind-the-scenes telefilm in mock nostalgia, with the film aping an episode of the TV series in question.

Beyond that, unfortunately, the film is so witless that rather than appreciation of what good sports its stars are, the appropriate response is cringing in embarrassment for them.

``Batman'' is the show in question, naturally, and Adam West and Burt Ward are reunited playing themselves, on a quixotic quest to recover the stolen Batmobile that was used in the series. The diminished duo wander aimlessly around Los Feliz - hitting the Vista Theater and the restaurant Mexico City - while recalling, in flashbacks, the popular mythology behind the show (Ward's gorged green Robin briefs arousing consternation among some viewers; the infamous ego-fueled backstage bickering).

While it's pretty apparent Ward hasn't done any serious acting for years, West camps it up as well as he ever did. Duane Poole's script is pretty much the definition of listless. Flat gags abound - when two comely women tell the actors, ``We're your biggest fans,'' it's inevitably followed by a tight shot of their breasts. The biggest laugh is inadvertent: Adam and Burt mention that they're now happily married before leading into a flashback that recalls Adam at his randiest - in their day, the film reminds us repeatedly, these guys were studs!

``Return to the Batcave'' merely manages to make West and Ward look like a pair of perfect twits - not only because they overlook glaring clues in the ersatz mystery, but for the simple reason that they agreed to do this misbegotten movie. Fans of the '60s op-art will want to look away, but hardly in genuflection.

RETURN TO THE BATCAVE: THE MISADVENTURES OF ADAM AND BURT - One and one half stars

What: Stars of the campy ``Batman'' TV show are reunited, wanly.

Where: CBS (Channel 2).

When: 9 tonight.

In a nutshell: Biff! Pow! Ooof! Adam West and Burt Ward lay waste to the show that laid waste to their careers.

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Photo:

(color) Burt Ward, left, and Adam West seem to be having a blast, but viewers may find ``Return to the Batcave'' disappointing.