DEATH TO SMOOCHY
US, 2002, 109 minutes, Colour.
Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener, Danny De Vito, Jon Stewart, Pam Ferris, Harvey Fierstein.
Directed by Danny De Vito.
Death to Smoochy must have sounded terrific on paper. There are many good things in it, but it does not quite gel and did not draw the audiences it hoped for.
On paper, it is the story of a children's TV host who is exposed for taking bribes and develops a homicidal hostility to his successor. His successor is a nice, naive and gentle but not very good mimic who somehow or other blossoms when he dons Smoochy's clothes and works with the children. Up front is the ambitious television producer who is sceptical about human goodness in general and does not find it in the television world. Behind the scenes is the oily agent who sniffs money. And in the background are assorted media employers - and some Mafia types. While you can guess what happens, it is watching how it works out that is generally interesting.
Perhaps everyone tried too hard and the result seems too strained. On the plus side is the performance of the ever-reliable and always different Edward Norton as the naive clown. He gets our sympathy and keeps us with it. Catherine Keener is always an effective screen presence. Her task is to move from media cynic to sympathiser to falling in love with the clown. Danny de Vito is the agent and does exactly what we expect and want of him. (He is also the director of the film.) Harvey Fierstein turns up as a menacing mafioso. So, in looking for the negative, it seems to be in the performance of the original Smoochie and his tantrums after he is dismissed. If you don't already know, he is played by Robin Williams. At times Williams can be brilliant. At other times (and often) he breaks out into uncontrollable mania which seems far too strong for the situation and sets it off kilter. And that is what he does here. There are many things going for Death to Smoochy, but it is also often very tiresome, especially when Robin Williams takes over.
1.An American comedy? American style and humour? Raucous comedy – Robin Williams style?
2.The background of television, studios, children’s programs, producers, rivalries? The world of advertising? Agents? Business – and Mafia?
3.The title, the humour of its name? Sheldon Mopes and his becoming Smoochy the Rhino? Rainbow Randolph and his attacks? Motivation?
4.The cast, comic strength? Robin Williams’ style, Edward Norton as straight man? Danny DeVito? as agent? The background of conniving agents? Catherine Keener as producer, change of heart?
5.The focus on the show, the children’s audience, Rainbow Randolph and his screen persona, Rainbow Randolph and his actual persona? With the children, his temperament? With Nora as producer? With Bennett as agent? His encounter with the people giving the payola, the nature of the bribe? His being caught? The authorities and their reaction? His being fired?
6.Sheldon Mopes, an ordinary young man, portraying the clown? Moral rectitude? His being accepted for the job? Becoming Smoochy the Rhino? His success with the children, with the audiences? The reaction of Nora, her change, affection for him? Transformed? The agents, the business deals? His integrity?
7.Nora, her position at the channel, the producer, harsh, unrelenting? Her treatment of Randolph? Her treatment of Sheldon? Her change of heart, the effect on her character?
8.Burke Bennett, the Danny De Vito character, the agent, his deals, double talk, conniving?
9.Randolph and his attempts to get revenge on Smoochy? His attempts to sabotage the program? Violence, vengeful? The black comedy aspects of his revenge? The effect on Sheldon, his coping, his continuing?
10.The gallery of minor characters: Marion Frank Stokes, his haircut, comic style? Tommy Cotter and the strength of presence? The Mafia types?
11.A satiric insight into the workings of a television channel, of children’s programming? The personalities of the talent? Strengths, weaknesses – and more weaknesses?
