Death to Smoochy (2002) is a dark comedy film starring Robin Williams, Edward Norton, and Catherine Keener. It also features Jon Stewart and Danny DeVito, who is also the film's director. Death to Smoochy is known to be humorous for its mostly dry and vulgar humor, particularly Williams' occasional cursing outbursts.

Taglines:

• He's Big, He's Blue, He's Smoochy... and He's got to DIE!
• Get ready for an unexpected hit.
• It's the rhino vs. the wino... with a little help from the mob.

Plot summary

After being fired and having his timeslot replaced by the sappy Sheldon Mopes, a.k.a. Smoochy the Rhino (Norton), corrupt children's television star Rainbow Randolph (Williams) finds himself unemployed and homeless. In effort to return to his life in the spotlight, Randolph develops several inane schemes to sabotoge the Smoochy show and regain his time slot, as well as his status as a television icon.

When not fighting for creative control, Sheldon tries to maintain a stable relationship with fellow employee Nora (Keener)- who later becomes Sheldon's love interest. Upon hearing about this relationship, Randolph decides to make it known about the wild times that he and Nora once had, going as far as to comment on how "limber" Nora was. Somewhat of a warped love triangle develops, as Nora completely denies having any feelings for Rainbow anymore.

Beneath all of what is happening around him, Mopes engages in unwanted relationships with the Irish mob, as well as a charity run by Harvey Fierstein that is more imposing than beneficial. The mob confronts Sheldon in his new office, demanding that their close friend and former pro boxer Spinner gets a spot on the Smoochy show. Smoochy, fearing for his life, accepts the "offer" and puts Spinner on the show. Spinner, after many years of boxing, is mentally handicapped and speaks like a very loud five-year-old.

The corrupt charity comes into play as Burke Bennett (DeVito) purposely bumps into Sheldon- who is drinking orange juice- at a bar. Bennett comes forward with an offer to Sheldon for full executive control of the Smoochy show. Not knowing who Burke is associated with, the naive Mopes accepts. Burke does indeed get Sheldon full creative control, but later that week signs Smoochy up for a touring ice skating show. Sheldon strongly opposes the idea, claiming that it is unnecessary "bells, whistles, and ricket-a-racka". Bennett urges Mopes to reconsider, but to no avail. Later on, Sheldon is confronted by charity boss Merv Green (Fierstein), who twists Sheldon's arm into doing the ice show.

The show goes on, but what Smoochy doesn't know is that Burke has hired a drug addict (also a former kiddy show host) to take him out during the show with a sniper rifle. The assassin almost carries out his deed, until Rainbow (who has ultimately joined forces with Sheldon) finds out about the assassination attempt and stops it. After a very uncharacteristic violent outburst, Sheldon finally sees eye to eye with Randolph. The two decide to join forces (with Nora as well) and continue the ice tour together as Rainbow Randolph and Smoochy the Rhino.

External links

• Warner Bros Official Site