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List Price: $14.97 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 34750
Released: September 17, 2002 |
| Our Price: $9.99 |
| Used Price: $1.34 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Randolph Smiley (ROBIN WILLIAMS) has it all - as the costumed star of the highest rated kid's show on TV, "Rainbow Randolph" has a Manhattan penthouse, a Times Square billboard featuring his beloved character, cars , boats, horses and all the indulgence that celebrity brings. Until he get's caught by the Feds in an under the table bribe, busted and instantly reviled, Randolph is a star no more. Enter Sheldon Mopes (EDWARD NORTON) and his alter-ego "Smoochy", a puffy, fuscia rhinoceros. Smoochy is the perfect remedy for what ails the networks...Now it's Smoochy who's got the swanky penthouse, the Times Square billboard and the smooth-talking agent (DANNY DEVITO). Sheldon soon learns that children's television is a dangerous world steeped in corruption, back-stabbing and violence with his biggest problem being Rainbow Randolph. Broke and homeless, Randolph seeks revenge on the Rhino that stole his job and his house; he's convinced the foam rubber carpetbagger is the face of evil sent by the devil to destroy him and he will not sleep until Smoochy takes a permanent dirt nap.
Description of Death To Smoochy (Fullscreen Edition):
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
Death To Smoochy (Fullscreen Edition) Reviews:
A LAUGH-A-MINUTE!! 
2009-03-21 - Oh wow, this was such an insane, rollicking ride. This film is pure genius, poking fun at the sanctity of something involving...GASP.....CHILDREN!!. Oh yes, we know, YOU SHOULDN"T DO THAT.....whine, whine, snivel, whine!!! Just pull the stick out of your a$$ and prepare to have a good, long laugh at this irreverent rollercoaster of ironic brilliance.
Surprisingly Good, And Nicely-Filmed Dark Comedy 
2009-02-05 - I'm embarrassed to say it but I really enjoy this film. I say that because of the humor is sick, mainly the tirades spouted by Robin Williams (especially with kids nearby).
Otherwise, this black comedy offers a really wonderful character as the lead good guy: "Smoochy the Rhino," played well by Edward Norton. How Norton could deliver some of these lines with a straight face is beyond me. He must have required numerous takes. He's a real hoot in here.
Despite what you might have read from national critics, there are a lot of laughs in this film. I also thought the cinematography was interesting with vivid, fascinating colors and some nice closeup shots. For a comedy, I don't expect photography to be as good as it is in here. Kudos to the director and cinematographer.
At any rate, you have to appreciate black comedy and this kind of almost-perverse humor, to like this movie. Of acquaintances who have viewed this film, I am the only one who liked it I'm glad to see the reviewers here at Amazon seem to like it (at least the ones on the front page here.)
funnny movie!!
2008-10-19 - oh my god!! edward norton can act kind funny guy.. supplies me. he is cute!!
funny movie
2008-07-16 - critics might have hated it, but i thought it was hilarious. Edward Norton was believsble and yet adorable at the same time. Robin Williams was over the top at times, but hysterical as the disgruntled former child show host, trying to sabotage "Smoochy the Rhino" show. definately worth checking out if u enjoy dark comedies.
LOVE this movie!
2008-06-02 - My man LOVES this movie! I just watched it myself and I thought it was both really sweet and funny (in a dark comedy sorta way)! Edward Norton and Robin Williams are fantastic! My boyfriend even has a tatoo of Smoochy on his left forearm!
