By Robert Scucci
| Published
Death to Smoochy was deemed the worst movie of the year by Roger Ebert after its 2002 release, and the Chicago Sun-Times critic went so far as to say that “only enormously talented people” could have even thought to make a film that was “so bad, so miscalculated, so lacking connection with any possible audience.” Though this sounds like a scathing indictment of this dark satire about the behind-the-scenes exploits of children’s programming and the kinds of conversations that happen behind closed doors at television networks, I can’t say that I agree with Ebert on this one even though I feel like his reviews were almost always pretty much on the nose during his long and storied career.
Having just rewatched Death to Smoochy (not on streaming, but through an on-demand rental), my main takeaway is that the film was simply too ahead of its time to win over critics, and holds up shockingly well through the lens of cynicism we’re all experiencing in the year 2025.
The Corruption Behind Children’s Programming
Wasting no time setting up its conflict, Death to Smoochy first introduces its audience to Rainbow Randolph Smiley (Robin Williams), a beloved children’s character on the Kidnet channel who gets caught accepting bribes, forcing the network to immediately fire him and search for a replacement.
Kidnet executive Marion Frank Stokes (Jon Stewart) is told that he needs to quickly find a replacement who has a clean reputation, and sends out his producer Nora Wells (Catherine Keener) to find the next big thing that won’t generate any controversy whatsoever.
In Nora’s search for talent, she finds the wholesome and sickeningly sweet Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton), more affectionately known to his audience at the methadone clinic as Smoochy the Rhino. Smoochy, who wants to share his positive message with the masses, signs on with Kidnet and gets his own television show, which sets up the epic, one-sided feud that plays out throughout the remainder of Death to Smoochy.
Rainbow Randolph’s Revenge Arc
Now homeless and destitute, Rainbow Randolph does everything he can to destroy Sheldon’s reputation in Death to Smoochy in the hopes of reclaiming his glory and getting his show back on the air.
Meanwhile, Sheldon learns the dark side of broadcasting when merchandise that’s in direct conflict with his wholesome message is going to be sold by the network, leading him to Burke Bennett (Danny DeVito), a corrupt agent who’s whole operation depends on exploiting charity events for personal gain.
Sheldon, who’s too sincere and naive to go along with all of the cynical directions his conscience is being pulled, finds himself caught between his wholesome and carefree creativity, his budding romance with Nora, the corrupt network’s greed and subsequent manipulation of his public image, Rainbow Randolph’s over-the-top attempts at dragging him through the mud, and Burk Bennett’s willingness to work with Irish mob boss Tommy Cotter (Pam Ferris) and corrupt charity organizer Merv Green (Harvey Fierstein) to steal from people in need that would benefit from his charity appearances.
Each and every person Sheldon encounters in Death to Smoochy is absolutely awful, but they soon find out how he’s actually the real deal and sincerely believes every single corny platitude that comes out of his mouth while trying to deliver a positive message to the kids with his show.
A Beacon Of Light In A World Of Darkness
Death to Smoochy is tough to watch because you just want Sheldon to snap under the pressure the entire time. While he comes close on more than one occasion, it’s refreshing to know that no matter how overwhelmed and in over his head he becomes, he never loses the plot, and wants to use his platform on Kidnet for good.
Robin Williams plays the perfect villain, and I’m shocked that he was nominated for a Worst Supporting Actor at the Razzies because his unhinged performance is exactly what you’d expect from a corrupt TV personality who will stop at nothing to reclaim his time slot when somebody infinitely more wholesome is given a chance to replace him. What’s more, Edward Norton knew the assignment because his good-boy image is coming from such an earnest place that you can’t help but root for Sheldon when his worldview is completely shattered along the way when he realizes that he’s working for a bunch of crooks.
Watching Death To Smoochy
While it may not be Academy Award material, Death to Smoochy deserves better because of how its many side plots beautifully converge in the third act without seeming sloppy or ever having to be explicitly explained to the audience. Sheldon Mopes is the real deal, and everybody else wants a piece of him for selfish and insidious reasons, making the audience double down on Smoochy while also kind of hoping he fails because it would be the ultimate tragedy.
Subverting audience expectations with its unique brand of cynicism and misanthropy, Death to Smoochy is being lost to time because it’s nowhere to be found on steaming. As of this writing, this dark masterpiece of manipulation and malfeasance can only be rented or purchased on demand through Prime Video, Apple TV+, YouTube, and Fandango at Home.
