Death to Smoochy

film by Frank Ochieng

Date Released: 03/29/2002

Rated: R (for questionable language and sexual references)

Film Length: 102 Minutes

Produced by: Andrew Lazar, Peter MacGregor-Scott

Directed by: Danny DeVito

Cast: Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener, Jon Stewart, Danny DeVito, Pam Ferris, Harvey Fierstein, Michael Rispoli

Distributor: Warner Bros.

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Frank's film tip: I love you, you love me--let's get together and encourage the death of Smoochy!

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The satirization of children's programming is indeed a desirable premise for a sharp black comedy to emerge from. The timing couldn't be better since the diatribe-ridden dribble of Barney the Dinosaur still rings in the consciousness of impressionable preschoolers who are enamored by the kooky, uncool carnivorous purple pest. In Danny DeVito's comedic foray into the ludicrous antics behind kiddie TV's seemingly innocuous camera, he presents us with the jittery "Death to Smoochy"--an off-centered and punchless comedy that sporadically misses the mark. DeVito, who has helmed such uproarious and twisted offerings such as "The War of the Roses" and "Throw Momma From the Train", is off track with his latest entry that doesn't have the taut caustic darkness or durable wit to lift this smirky, silly-minded showcase. Intermittingly banal and needlessly boisterous, "Death to Smoochy" has more holes in it than a hungry moth that has descended upon Mr. Rogers's drab sweaters!

The film tells the tale of Randolph Smiley (Robin Williams), a star of a top-rated kiddies show where his Rainbow Randolph alter ego feeds on the entertainment of giddy youngsters. Although popular with the youthful viewing audience in the forefront, Smiley is nothing but a riff raffish rogue in the background. Among his dirty deeds includes dealing with shady characters (gangsters, corrupt officials, murderers, etc.) while taking bribes from unwilling parents desperate to get their offspring on his hip program. Smiley, sad to say, is a devilish and despicable fraud. Still, he's not as appetizing or clever as say...well..."The Simpsons" caustic Rusty the Clown.

Because of his on-going seedy dealings, network head honcho Frankie Stokes (Jon Stewart) has had enough of Smiley's illegal shananigans and decides to put an end to the downward spiral of his wayward in-demand TV host. Stokes replaces Rainbow Randolph in the time slot with the good-natured Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton), a personality whom dons a puffed-out, flashy pinkish rhinoceros costume and goes by the moniker of Smoochy.

Soon Smoochy is an instant hit, much to the dismay of a dejected and deeply envious Randolph Smiley. Seething with rage, Smiley looks on with an indescribable jealously at Mopes's turn as the cherished and simple-minded Smoochy whose Barney-like charm has captured the attention of television-watching tykes everywhere. But Mopes/Smoochy have more than just the brooding ex Rainbow Randolph to worry about--other ruthless characters start to invade the life of the newly unprepared TV star. There's the presence of a morally bankrupt agent (Danny DeVito) trying to vy for the attention of Mopes and his sudden fame. Then the proceedings really get out of hand when other undesirables start to come out of the woodwork willing to give Mopes some static for one reason or the other. But the real bee in Mopes's bonnet is the scheming Smiley who smells revenge. And things don't get any smoother when it's revealed that the "innocent" Smoochy is playing footsies with Smiley's former flame Nora (Catherine Keener), a hotshot network programming exec. This of course fuels the anomosity even more in Smiley to eradicate the opportunistic Sheldon Mopes, a.k.a. lovable Smoochy.

"Death to Smoochy" never seizes the opportunity to attack its sardonic subject matter with a cynical and crafty edginess that's required in an effective satire. DeVito merely puts his protagonists through the ringer by hanging the movie's acerbic and dilusional overtones on the gratingly over-the-top and misguided performances of his players. Instead of supplying "Smoochy" with a blazing raucousness that allows the audience to indulge in the hectic pacing of what is suppose to be the calming experience that is hokey children's television, DeVito focuses the energy on the absurdity of the characters' lame, quirky predicaments. Never do you wallow in the underlying cutthroat tactics that is potentially the deceiving world of friendly kid-related programming. The film is not savvy enough to reveal anything special nor does it take the necessary nervy pot shots to skewer the television industry in general. There's nothing delightfully garish or daring about "Death to Smoochy" other than the film's random propensity to engage in all its aimless, self-absorbed hysterics.

As for Williams, his Randolph Smiley only hints at being this obsessive, petty-minded bore for whom moviegoers are to secretly root for despite his sociopath tendencies. The reality is that Williams's turn is as in-depth and familiar as the nonsensical impromptu high-wire routine that he has demonstrated countless times before in various guest-shots and interviews. There's no real element of undercurrent disturbing vibes that challenges the viewers' unsuspecting imaginations. Even Norton, who's one of this generation's most adventurous and resilient young actors, fails to give his characterization of Smoochy any dimension and angst because the movie doesn't bother to address any hidden skeletons in this beleaguered guy's closet. Smoochy, it appears, only lazily exists in the film as the convenient excuse of being a punchline waiting for roving eccentrics to take a poke at. This is certainly not the skillfull direction that's typical of a healthy, robust off-kilter spoof.

For all the degradation and downright frolicking that "Death to Smoochy" could have manipulated to its advantage by exploiting the sacchrine-coated facade at the expense of children's television and the wolves who shrewdly control it, DeVito and his filmmaking accomplices fail to involve us in the ribaldry at large. Shamelessly callow and transparent, the talent involved in this uneven laughfest need to seriously evaluate their participation in this wry clunker.

Thank goodness for Smoochy's boob tube inspiration Barney--at least we can look to him with both intentional and unintentional hilarity and know a dependable riotous gagfest when we see one! Sadly, a pending death for Smoochy is not instantaneous enough.

Frank rates this film: ** stars (out of 4 stars)