Product Details

• Actors: Richard Cocchiaro, Glen Cross, Craig Eldridge, Pam Ferris, Harvey Fierstein
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: September 17, 2002
• Run Time: 109 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (167 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00006CY4W
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,278 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Guaranteed to please anyone who thinks Barney is Satan's spawn, Death to Smoochy mines comedy gold by skewering children's television. Adam Resnick's easy-target satire blossoms under the demented influence of director-costar Danny DeVito, who honors his legacy of venom-laced humor with the raucous rivalry of scandalized former kid-show host Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) and his squeaky-clean replacement, Sheldon Mopes, a.k.a. Smoochy the Rhino (Edward Norton). Randolph is insanely obsessed with getting his job back, but Smoochy's a smash, and their war for kid-vid supremacy places a jaded "KidNet" producer (Catherine Keener) in the middle of a Rainbow/Rhino smackdown. A few lulls are easily forgiven since much of Death to Smoochy is laugh-out-loud hilarious, with DeVito, Robert Prosky, Jon Stewart, and Harvey Fierstein in choice supporting roles. It's no wonder DeVito's taboo-busting drew fire from family groups and actual kid-show producers; only the humorless would fail to laugh at Smoochy's uncompromised irreverence. --Jeff Shannon

From The New Yorker
Not really a movie. More of a fifty-car highway pileup disguised as a movie. Robin Williams plays the host of a children's TV show-smiling onstage, all snarls elsewhere. He is fired for taking bribes, and, under the eye of a steely producer (Catherine Keener), his place is taken by a sweet, health-conscious fool (Ed Norton) in a rhino suit. Danny DeVito appears as a bouncy slimeball; he also directed the movie, which-and this is both a wild guess and a recommendation-may not appear on the stars' résumés in future years. It really is one to expunge: semi-plotted, silly yet funless, with overstuffed performances and a strange visual coating that manages to be at once plastic and sweaty. A shame, because there is a great comedy to be made about children's television and the empurpling stranglehold of Barney and his ilk. With Harvey Fierstein as a mobster; yes, it's that convincing. -Anthony Lane
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "I despise you! I LOATHE YOU!!!!" I'm Very Pleased, Indeed, September 22, 2002

By	Michael Crane (Orland Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Death to Smoochy (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

This movie is a prime example of why I never listen to professional critics. Most of the time, they hate movies that I love and love movies that I hate. Of course this movie isn't going to win any Acadamy Awards. Of course it isn't the best film ever. It's not trying to be. I found "Death to Smoochy" to be a dark and entertaining comedy with a really creative story. Robin Williams and Edward Norton star in this off-the-wall freak show directed by Danny DeVito.

Williams used to be "Rainbow Randolph;" a kiddie-show host who children just adored. That is, until he was busted for taking a bribe. Now the not so rainbow man is out of the job and is homeless. Out of an act of desperate measures, the company decides to hire Edward Norton; a dorky self-righteous dweeb without a single skeleton hiding in his closet. A new kiddie-show host is born, and his name is "Smoochy the Rhino." Well, Rainbow Randolph is not pleased at all. In fact, he's willing to take the rhino down for good. Because he's going hunting! The story unfolds with some of the most outrageous twists and turns to be seen in a comedy in a long time.

The acting is really good, and is right for this type of movie. Williams is over-the-top as always, and Norton really gives us the impression of such a moral imbecile, he makes Ned Flanders look like a no good hoodlum! The cast also inculdes Jon Stewart, Catherine Keener, and Danny DeVito himself. They all do this movie justice.

The directing by DeVito really shines in this movie. Had it been given to anyone else, it could've been a disaster. He knew when to have the actors take it up a notch and then tone it down when the time was right. I also really liked how the movie was filmed. At one minute, the movie would be bright and colorful, and then dark and grim the next. It really keeps the viewer's attention.

The DVD is quite good. Very surprised with it. As I said before, Warner Bros. usually likes to hold back when it comes to special features, but there's a lot on this one. Some of the features include commentary from the director and director of photography, additional scenes, bloopers and outtakes, trailers, and many more. I especially got a kick out of the bloopers and outtakes. Just wished it was a little longer.

So, if you're looking for an artistic movie or one that's going to win a few Oscars, then skip this movie. If you're looking for an off-the-wall dark comedy with a creative plot and story, then "Death to Smoochy" just may be the movie for you. Yes, I feel there could've been things done to make the movie better, but I was really pleased with the overall product. A very strange and bizarre movie it is, but that's the kind of movie I love.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Laughs!, January 24, 2005

By	H. Swanson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Death to Smoochy (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

This movie stars Edward Norton, is there anything more that can be said? ;) It's so nice to see such amazing diversity in an actor's characters. (If you want to know what I'm referring to, just go watch American History X and then Death to Smoochy).

"I think you'd have to be wired way too tight not to be able to laugh at this movie. It's able to give you a dark chuckle on an adult level and satirize things in a sophisticated way." -Edward Norton

Sure DTS's humor may be a little juvenile at some times, but it's nevertheless hillarious.

Highly recommended, if nothing else see it for Edward Norton, he gives a great performance (as always) and his character (Sheldon Mopes) is a nice change from the usual.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Twisted humor with an honest heart, March 5, 2004

By	Debbie Lee Wesselmann (the Lehigh Valley, PA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Death to Smoochy (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

This hilarious skewering of kids television is refreshing even among dark comedies. Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) has lost it all - television show, penthouse, reputation - when his network producer (Catherine Keener) finds Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton) singing in a homemade costume in a methadone clinic. She brings him aboard KidNet as Smoochy, dresses him up, gives him an elaborate, colorful set, and launches a career. The trouble is, Sheldon is naive, and wants only to teach children about the benefits of organic food, tolerance, and anti-consumerism. And Rainbow Randolph has dedicated his every waking minute to orchestrating his downfall. Throw in Danny DeVito as Smoochy's corrupt, power-hungry agent, a Irish mob protecting a lovable, brain-damaged boxer who loves Smoochy, the head of a children's charity capable of murder, and a string of has-been children's television performers - and you've got a twisted, laugh out loud black comedy that is like nothing else I've seen.

Even Barney-haters will love the clips from Smoochy's show since Sheldon believes so completely in goodness. He really wants to change the world, in his politically correct, strict vegetarian way. When he sings, "Your stepfather is not mean/(chorus of kids) He's just adjusting," it's hilarious. His wholesome image contrasts dramatically with the foul-mouthed, cynical, and even murderous characters around him. Robin Williams turns in an excellent grungy performance as Randolph. Edward Norton is completely believable and lovable as Sheldon/Smoochy, even when the corruption around him begins to affect him. Catherine Keener has just the right mix of hard-nosed corporate greed, cynicism, and the ability to be won over by a good children's song. Danny DeVito is the kind of seedy character he always plays; his real contribution to this film is as its director, and he does a fabulous job. The set and costume designs are notable as well.

You need a twisted sense of humor to fully appreciate this film. Oddly, despite the premise, this is not a mean comedy. Randolph's murderous impulses, while ugly, are off-set by Sheldon's honest attempts to protect the sanctity of children's television. If you're looking for an off-beat comedy, you've found your film.