Death to Smoochy (2002)

A kids show host, Rainbow Randolph, is fired in disgrace while his replacement, Sheldon Mopes, aka Smoochy the Rhino, finds himself a rising star. Unfortunately for Sheldon, the business of kids television isn't all child's play.

Director:

Danny DeVito

Writer:

Adam Resnick

Stars:

Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Williams	...	Rainbow Randolph
Edward Norton	...	Sheldon Mopes / Smoochy the Rhino
Catherine Keener	...	Nora Wells
Danny DeVito	...	Burke Bennett
Jon Stewart	...	Marion Frank Stokes
Pam Ferris	...	Tommy Cotter
Danny Woodburn	...	Angelo Pike
Michael Rispoli	...	Spinner Dunn
Harvey Fierstein	...	Merv Green
Vincent Schiavelli	...	Buggy Ding Dong
Craig Eldridge	...	Husband
Judy White	...	Wife
Tim MacMenamin	...	Danny
Bruce McFee	...	Roy
Glen Cross	...	Jimmy

Storyline

Fired in disgrace, kids show host Randolph Smiley finds himself out on the street, while his replacement Sheldon Mopes, finds himself on the fast track to success with a new hit show as the proud purple rhino Smoochy. But things take a turn for the worst when Sheldon finds out that some of the people that he works with, and some he doesn't know he's working for, are all in it for the money. Meanwhile, Randolph is slowly turning insane with his only thoughts focusing on killing Smoochy and getting back to his life of luxury.

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Plot Keywords:

homosexual | gay | black teddy | woman on top | children | 

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Taglines:

It's a kids show... with gangsters, bribery and corruption!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [United States]

Country:

UK Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Smoochy

Filming Locations:

Times Square, 42nd Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,266,463, 31 March 2002, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$8,355,815, 5 May 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.,FilmFour,Senator Film Produktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the original script, the Smoochy costume was orange.

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Goofs

Sheldon is arrested at the Nazi Party in New Jersey, but booked at a NYPD station which is in a different state.

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Quotes

Randolph: [fighting over the sniper rifle] You shot Smoochy, you bastard! Give me that gun, you whacked out piece of shit!
Buggy Ding Dong: No! I've got to kill the rhino!

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Alternate Versions

When the movie premiered on several channels such as ABC, TBS, Comedy Central or NBC, all the sexual references, offensive scenes and profanity were edited out, except other words like "damn" and "hell". The TV edited version of the film was rated TV-PG-L for mild language. 1. The Cookie Rocket Ship scene was completely removed, because of the use of the cookie that is shaped like a penis. 2. The Nazi parts (especially the Neo-Nazi Rally scene) were removed, because it was felt that it would be offensive towards Germans. 3. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the North tower of the World Trade Center was digitally removed in the part where Rainbow Randolph was dancing on the small bench in Duane Park in Duane Street in Lower Manhattan. The North tower was still intact in the original film. 4. The part where Nora flips off Sheldon was omitted. 5. The scenes where Nora having sex with Sheldon in the changing room at KidNet Studios were removed completely. 6. In the conversation scene between Randolph and Frank Stokes in the car, the masturbating noise was muted. 7. The part where Randolph spills hot water on himself was removed, due to him saying that his balls were on fire.

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Connections

References Life of Brian (1979)

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Soundtracks

Smoochy's Methadone Song
Lyrics by Adam Resnick
Performed by Edward Norton

User Reviews

Funny as hell

I have been updating my movie knowledge of Ed Norton movies and came across this film that I'd never even heard of. Then I read some of the reviews and thought "aah, this might be one of those really bad B-category craps" but I watched it anyway. Well, first of all, this movie really is funny! Totally over the top, colourful, cheesy, sticky sweet mess of fun, black comedy and drama. I loved the characters, and Smoochy (Edward Norton) is absolutely adorable. He looks like he really enjoyed being this goofy guy in a rhino costume and he's having fun with it. The medical centre scene is so hilarious I had to watch it again and again, as well as the scene when he has to improvise in front of the kids. Brilliant. Hysterical. I loved every minute of this movie. Of course, it's just a sidelined little project, never became a blockbuster, and it does need a certain mood to be enjoyable, but it still got on my ultimate funny-movie top list. De Vito did a good job directing it, so well done!