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Movies / Upcoming / Death to Smoochy
Death to Smoochy

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Death to Smoochy (2002)

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42 %
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Reviews Counted:119

Fresh:50

Rotten:69

Average Rating:5.3/10

Consensus: The talent involved can't save a script that has nowhere to go with its promising premise.

Runtime: 2 hrs 23 mins

Genre: Television

US Box Office: $8,308,230

Synopsis: Robin Williams goes berserk as Rainbow Randolph, the disgraced host of a children's television show, in director Danny DeVito's fast-paced satire, DEATH TO SMOOCHY. Busted by the Feds for accepting... Robin Williams goes berserk as Rainbow Randolph, the disgraced host of a children's television show, in director Danny DeVito's fast-paced satire, DEATH TO SMOOCHY. Busted by the Feds for accepting a bribe to get a child on his show, Randolph gets booted from his network, Kidnet, and is replaced by the earnest do-gooder Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton), who plays Smoochy, a loveable pink rhino with a strong resemblance to Barney. Sheldon sums up his own personality with a classic line, "When my brothers and I played cowboys and Indians, I was always the Chinese railroad worker." As Sheldon becomes a superstar, Randolph plots his revenge. Sheldon's refusal to push cheap toys and sugary drinks angers the Kidnet execs, especially tough-as-nails Nora (Catherine Keener). Sheldon also runs up against the Irish mob and his agent (DeVito) gets him into trouble with a corrupt charity. Meanwhile, Nora finds herself falling for the principled performer. Robin Williams is amazing, completely shedding his "nice guy" persona and making the shockingly foulmouthed kiddie show host simultaneously hilarious and frightening. Norton does a great job of winning the audience over to his buffoonish but truly good hearted character. He and Keener lend heart to the scathingly funny script by Adam Resnick. [More]

Starring: Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener, Danny DeVito

Starring: Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener, Danny DeVito, Jon Stewart, Harvey Fierstein, Michael Rispoli, Pam Ferris, Danny Woodburn, Vincent Schiavelli, Elvis Stojko

Director: Danny DeVito

Director: Danny DeVito
Screenwriter: Adam Resnick
Producer: Andrew Lazar, Peter MacGregor-Scott
Composer: David Newman
Studio: Warner Bros.

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Reviews for Death to Smoochy

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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It’s bizarre, wild, entertaining and deliciously dark. Death to Smoochy is a splendid parody as Danny DeVito revels in the darkness of the project and Robin Williams excels at the wild swings of madness the role demands. At times melodramatic, but always

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
12/27/02
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
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Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
10/02/02
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

I was happy enough with it through most of it, but are we living in such insecure times that even dark, violent comedies now have to end on an up note?

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
07/29/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Considering that it's meant to be a comedy about a TV children's show, DeVitto's picture is particularly irritating, nasty, and mean-spirited.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
06/12/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
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Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
09/30/05
Scott Nash
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs
N/R

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Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Houston Chronicle
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N/R

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Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
02/01/04
FilmStew.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

[T]his is a movie that ought to have been a lot funnier... Death to Smoochy is a cry likely to be heard by ticketbuyers as well.

Full Review Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette | comment Comment
01/04/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Robin Williams' manic energy is put to perfect use in this amusing and twisted comedy.

Full Review Source: Radio Free Entertainment | comment Comment
09/09/03
Andrew Manning
Andrew Manning
Radio Free Entertainment

I giggled all the way through "Death to Smoochy." It wasn't that ha-ha giggle, it was that evil, kind of maniacal giggle.

Full Review Source: Zap2it.com | comment Comment
08/28/03
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com

Comédia de humor negro com direção excessiva de DeVito, traz Edward Norton em um bom desempenho. É uma pena que o roteiro não tenha sido melhor aproveitado, já que este filme poderia ser mais interessante.

comment Comment
07/25/03
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

Suffers from the same problem as most of the shows it pokes fun at - it runs on for far too long . . . to maintain a firm hold on the attention span of it's intended audience.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
03/19/03
Brian Mckay
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com

Director DeVito has referred to this film as 'a cross between Barney and Pulp Fiction.' He wishes.

Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | comment Comment
02/08/03
John R. McEwen
John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online

The premise is a comedy cliché.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Alex Nohe
Alex Nohe
Film Threat

Kiddie-TV satire has foul-mouthed mania to spare, but never attains true inspiration.

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
James Rocchi
Netflix
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
all

Latest News for Death to Smoochy

January 05, 2006: Jon Stewart to Host the Oscars!
Every news outlet, movie site, and cine-blog is reporting the news, so I'll just cite good ol' ComingSoon.net as our source, but there's the good news: Everyone's favorite... More...

January 03, 2006: Vincent Schiavelli Passes at 57
Character actor Vincent Schiavelli, the long-faced veteran of over 150 film and television appearances, died of lung cancer December 26 at home in Sicily. He was 57 years old. More...

February 25, 2002: It should be noted that when 'black comedies' push the envelope too far, their subsequent box office suffers. Prime recent examples would be: Freddy Got Fingered, Very Bad Things, Whipped, and Jawbreaker. Opens in new window
More...

February 06, 2002: The working environment of the shoot may have been buoyant, but as DeVito points out, the film at times is anything but. Opens in new window
More...

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