The uncanny strangeness to Death to Smoochy is exactly as the title and movie posters suggest. Smoochy is full of dark, sinister deeds revolving around colorful children’s characters. And that’s just where the strangeness begins.

Death to Smoochy begins as Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams), or Rainbow “f***‘in” Randolph, as he likes to call himself, is fired from his job as a children’s TV star after he is caught in a scandal. Kidnet, the TV studio, now has to find a new star and it’s up to Nora Wells (Catherine Keener) and Marion Stokes (Jon Stewart) to do it. They decide upon Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton), who’s dresses up as Smoochy the Rhino, to host a new Barney-esque show.

The story revolves around Sheldon, who represents an unconditionally, although not entirely convincingly, loving person who’s motto is, “You can’t change the world, but you can make a dent.” Sheldon is concerned about the environment, not eating anything unhealthy, and proclaims to live a WWJD lifestyle. The character is just so silly though. You get the feeling Norton is doing an SNL skit making fun of good-natured people rather than actually trying to depict one.

The story comes along as Sheldon wants nothing more than to put on a wholesome children’s show, but runs into conflict with various factions with agendas. Kidnet wants Smoochy to advertise some less-than-healthy snack foods, an Irish gang wants Smoochy to include one of their members in his show for some reason, and a corrupt children’s charity is trying to get him to put on an icecapades type show so they can cash in. Oh yeah, and Rainbow Randolph is trying to kill him the whole time so he can get his show back.

Death to Smoochy is a dark comedy that is sometimes humorous just because of the strangeness of its situations, but is never really funny in its self. Robin Williams’ spazzing out loses its humor after the first few minutes and Jon Stewart, who is hilarious on The Daily Show, never gets a funny line. It’s fun to see Edward Norton get so into his character, but with the exception of a few songs (like "Stepdad isn’t bad, he’s just adjusting"), it’s never really funny.

Death to Smoochy also does visually what it does thematically with the juxtaposition of the dark and colorful. The scenes frequently flip from a dark alley or room where dark things are being contrived to the Technicolor sets of Smoochy’s show. The strangeness of it all, although fun, never really goes anywhere. It all ends just as strange as it began.


  
 
 

Year:

 MPAA Rating: Running Time: Date Written:  
2002 R 1:49 08/03  
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