Death to Smoochy (2002)

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

This film is a black comedy about the universe of children's TV programs. In the movie, idealistic Sheldon Mopes (aka Smoochy the Rhino), after a meteoric rise in television and fame, will face several enemies and rivals, who will wish his disappearance, beginning with Rainbow Randolph (which he came to replace without doing anything to it) and ending in his own unscrupulous agent. A story that can be very unpleasant as there are no pleasant characters. Mopes is the nicest character, but he's so angelic, overly well-intentioned and uncommon in his way of thinking (which, though, is consistent with what the character stands for) that we end up not being able to like him. He is too naïve and, therefore, becomes worthy of our mistrust.As a comedy, the film turns out partially, especially if you enjoy black humor. But the jokes are rather weak and make you smile rather than laugh, perhaps because black humor has some moral stigma for many people and isn't pleasing to the majority of the public. The actors do a decent job, especially Edward Norton and Danny DeVito. Robin Williams is a great comic actor but this is perhaps his weakest film. It just wasn't the right character for him. The remaining cast is limited to comply with what it has to do, without great merit. All this contributes to make this film into a weak and forgettable comedy, where small notes of irony are the most positive point to emphasize.

War of the kid's show mascots, as a shameless Barney stand-in steals the national adoration (and television slot) of a down-on-his-luck Captain Kangaroo stand-in. With an invested Ed Norton as the former and a cackling, chaotic Robin Williams as the latter, the right pieces might appear to be in-place for some fireworks, but the film never gets there. Hopelessly predictable and cut-rate, it's a watery humorless mess. The cast seems to know they're in a stinker, too, with a steaming mound of half-assed performances and a full gallery of awful, borderline-offensive caricatures. Norton is really the only one who seems like he's into it, throwing his all into the part of a hopelessly naive nice guy who falls in bed with a den of vipers, though Williams admittedly doesn't get much substance to work with. Jon Stewart is particularly atrocious in his supporting role as a weak-willed executive with bad hair who constantly, pointlessly lingers around the fringe like a wet fart. Riddled with holes and desperately short on laughs, Smoochy's questionable morals seem to hint that the key to success in show business involves choosing the nicer of two warring mob factions. Bizarre, boring fodder without a purpose, this one was a real chore to finish.

Allow me to untangle this web. I don't care if Danny Devito's last movie was about jugging rubber balls for a hut full of pygmies on the outskirts of the Congo! This movie fits the bill, and you need to watch it! And that's why the rhino's going to get exactly what he deserves. Death to Smoochy is a mix of Barney the Dinosaur and over the top gangster films. Death to Smoochy is an acquired taste, that has since release, got a large cult follow. In no way is the movie perfect, this movie does take something so sacred like kid-televisions shows host, and turn it incredibly dark. Most of the characters are pretty unlikeable and mean-spirited, and their turn around to good, a bit far-fetch, but I have to say, that the movie isn't trying to be squeaky clean, it's trying to show that even the greater of good can still fall in the mud. The movie felt like a remake of 1939's Mr. Smith goes to Washington with its similar plot. The movie is about, a good-All American boy, named Sheldon Mopes AKA Smoochy (Edward Norton) who is hired by a network station to replace, corrupt children's television show host, Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) whom just got busted for taking bribes. It's seem like the television producers, M. Frank Stokes (Jon Stewart) & Nora Wells (Catherine Keener) charged with finding a squeaky clean replacement for Randolph, under-establish how squeaky clean, Sheldon is, as he's not willing to forsake any events that is funded by criminals such as the Parade of Hope, who hide under a charity organization. Now, Sheldon must try to keep his 'I want to do good", mentality believable, under the pressure of the harsh realism of corruption, leaded by attacks from both Rainbow Randolph, Parade of Hope, and the Network. Making a dark comedy is difficult to write, it's so easy to slip into a really depressing drama, or horror, if not handled correctly. I think the movie is well-written. It is crass, crude, and hilarious. It shows the depths of ugliness, but isn't too mean-spirited to be unlikeable. Still, whatever commentary there was supposed to be about American mass media consumerism didn't really come through right. Without the great gifted acting from both Edward Norton and Robin Williams, this movie wouldn't had work. Edward Norton's Sheldon Mopes is a lovable and friendly character that's so nice, so friendly, so naive, he played all those layers of the character so well we start to believe a guy like that can really exist! He was a bit annoying at times, but overall, he did great as the moral stone needed for this film to work. Robin Williams is just ridiculous, most of his jokes were funny as hell. This is the first role, in a long time of playing the good guy in the 1990s, that he was alright as the rude and irascible with a propensity for violence, type of a bad guy. The supporting cast was just as funny as them. I love the character of Spinner Dunn (Michael Rispoli). He was such a lovable funny character. The witty one-liners, harsh physical comedy and dark, biting tone force the audience to laugh out loud while squirming in their seats. Still, it's weird that Neo-Nazis are huge fans of a cartoony rhino. The music that goes with the film is just absurd, but great to hear; "Step-father," one of Moochy's songs about being patient with mom's new husband, is pure brilliance. Even the "Friends Come in All Sizes," song by Robin William is pretty impression with the opening tap dance. The whole ice dance event toward the end was very well-done. I got buzzed off of orange juice watching it. Death to Smoochy is known for its outwardly vulgar and profane humor, particularly Williams' profound cursing outbursts throughout the film. I wouldn't say, this movie should be watch, by children, at all. It was unfair of critics to call it one of the worst of the year. Overall: Death to Smoochy is screwed up satire, but in a squeamishly delightful kind of way. Plus, for those of you who harbor a secret, pent-up, homicidal hatred of Barney, will love this movie. Death to Smoochy can't change the world but it did made a dent in some people lives. I was surprised to find that this film has so many rabid fans.

This film starts dark as the children's TV star Rainbow Randolph is shown taking a bribe to allow a child special status on his show in a sting operation... or rather, dark before that, with the emphasis on the sales of his likeness and candy style "breakfast foods"... or maybe just in the innuendos of the song he sings at the beginning... or dark when we watch a figure being beaten to death at the very opening.All of the above: less than 5 minutes of screen time. This dark as the grave comedy just keeps getting darker and darker.WARNING: With the loss of one of the stars by his own hand, this may be too dark for the fans of Mr. Williams. I thought I could take it. I was wrong. Too soon for me, but I will go back again.It is, however, as brilliant a piece of dark comedy ever made, and with his untimely loss, maybe some that ignored it then will find it now. Brutal, unflinching and bordering on bitter (but never sweet), this is a grand film for all involved. Read the cast names... yes, this one somehow got away from us.