Death to Smoochy

R

Released Mar 29, 2002

1 hr. 49 min.

Comedy

List

42%

119 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Tells the story of Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams), the corrupt, costumed star of a popular children's TV show, who is fired over a bribery scandal and replaced by squeaky-clean Smoochy (Edward Norton), a puffy fuscia rhinoceros. As Smoochy catapults to fame - scoring hit ratings and the affections of a network executive (Catherine Keener) - Randolph makes the unsuspecting rhino the target of his numerous outrageous attempts to exact revenge and reclaim his status as America's sweetheart.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Alec B

I recognize that its a bit of a mess and it has too many subplots however I appreciate the ambition and there are some perfectly executed dark gags in this.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Virginia Rand d

I'm shocked that people were so pissed off about this movie. On a basic level, it's structurally sound with an interesting premise. Not all movies can promise that. On top of that, it's totally unpredictable while staying true to the story, the performances are great, and the dialogue is really funny. Some of the moments are pretty eccentric and edge on bizarre, but it's fulfilling its intention. Maybe something culturally was happening at the time, and such a strange dark comedy wasn't welcome. But I hope Death To Smoochy gets its retribution.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

Full Review

James N

A great cast but they're pretty wasted. Phobe especially because of the pasta and sauce robin williams and danny woodburn shared. Catherine Keener is everything though my god

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/28/23

Full Review

JDB

A very funny, underrated classic

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Charly A

Really an excellent movie, with Norton and Williams (delivering the best one liners of his career, and that's saying something) being great, and curiously cast against type.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/17/22

Full Review

mark g

This is a deeply underrated movie. Very dark, very funny, and Robin WIlliams (RIP) really threw his all into this, as did Ed Norton. I think it was misunderstood and maybe poorly marketed, but it is definitely a very enteraining movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Danny DeVito

Director

Robin Williams

Randolph

Ed Norton

Sheldon Mopes

Catherine Keener

Nora

Danny DeVito

Burke

Jon Stewart

M. Frank Stokes

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

A dark comedy that blows up like an exploding cigar, leaving nothing much behind but smoke, noise and a bad taste.

Rated: 2/4

Jul 20, 2002

Full Review

J. Hoberman

Village Voice

Death to Smoochy is often very funny, but what's even more remarkable is the integrity of DeVito's misanthropic vision.

Apr 2, 2002

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

615 Film

Rarely does something so tasteless on the surface produce such depth. I hope this finds its audience; this would bring the house down with the right midnight audience.

Jun 15, 2022

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

An awful embarrassing movie...

Apr 29, 2009

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

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?

Rated: B+

Jul 29, 2007

Full Review

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Synopsis

Tells the story of Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams), the corrupt, costumed star of a popular children's TV show, who is fired over a bribery scandal and replaced by squeaky-clean Smoochy (Edward Norton), a puffy fuscia rhinoceros. As Smoochy catapults to fame - scoring hit ratings and the affections of a network executive (Catherine Keener) - Randolph makes the unsuspecting rhino the target of his numerous outrageous attempts to exact revenge and reclaim his status as America's sweetheart.

Director: Danny DeVito
Screenwriter: Adam Resnick
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: FilmFour Productions
Rating: R (Sexual References|Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.4M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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