Review of Death to Smoochy (2002) by Jeff G — 11 Aug 2008

I'm sorry--I like it. I know a lot of people don't, but I do. I actually own it, in fact. (There was nothing good in the library stack, it turns out.) This is another place where I'm going to have to pull the "different people have different tastes" routine. Besides, I know I'm not alone. Given how many people absolutely loathe this movie, the fact that it maintains a positive, albeit marginally so, rating over at IMDB must mean something, right? (Yeah, I know. I disagree with IMDB ratings a lot. But I'm sure you can see my point.).

Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) is out. It turns out he's one of many people milking the rich cash cow that it children's television, and since it's pretty egregious, and since he's pretty famous, an example is made of him. His replacement, found after background checks on practically everyone in the business, is Sheldon Mopes, who plays Smoochy the Rhino. Sheldon is ridiculously clean, insanely honest. He espouses causes that are honourable, and if he goes a bit too far, well, at least he's not a criminal, right? But Randolph pretty much is, and he decides to get his revenge on "the rhino." Unfortunately for him, Sheldon has befriended Spinner Dunn (Michael Rispoli), a former boxer whose mother's a big name in the Irish mob. On the other hand, Randolph's in big with the rest of the children's television types, including the ominous Merv Green (Harvey Fierstein).

Don't get me wrong. I can see why some people don't get into it. For one thing, not everyone likes dark comedy, and it's hard to get into a dark comedy about children's show hosts. It's a busy movie with a bizarre concept. Okay. Not all of the characters make sense. I get that. And, yes, Sheldon is pretty annoying. I can see it not being your thing. But to call it the worst movie ever made? Hells, it isn't even the worst [i]Jon Stewart[/i] movie ever made. (For example, check out my review of [i]Doogal[/i], wherein he plays an evil spring wizard. No, really--an evil wizard whose body is a spring.) There are worse Robin Williams movies. Believe me, I could go on listing. I guess some people can't just dislike a movie without calling it the worst one ever made.

Personally, I find it a hilarious take on what a mobbed-up children's show empire would look like. There's also some real satire to it--it's absolutely true that a program like Smoochy's would be merchandised to bits. Even when that merchandise is pretty inappropriate to the message of the show. It's also true that the battle for ratings and time slots can be a grim business, and that bad things can happen to those who fall out of TV's favour. (Ask two thirds of the kids from [i]Diff'rent Strokes[/i].) And then it plays that off the insane host who even, so far as I can tell, [i]creates a Nazi rally[/i] to get what he wants. Comedy gold!

You don't have to agree with me, and you're certainly free to tell me where I'm wrong. It wouldn't be the first time people have done that. However, I doubt anyone can seriously make a strong case for this movie being the worst ever made. If you think you can, I'd love to hear it.