Death to Smoochy

[Holden Pike]

I had high hopes for Death to Smoochy (http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Ss/0266452/C144-9R.jpg), and I'm happy to say the movie came damn close to meeting just about all of 'em.

I took a while to get its fuzzy fuchsia footing, and I still think the first ten or fifteen minutes are unnecessarily hurried and underdeveloped, but when it does get on track (and it does) it chugs along very amusingly to its logical and hysterical conclusion. Director Danny DeVito finally put Robin Williams' manic energy to good use. He hasn't been this funny and dark in over a decade. Edward Norton continues to widen his range, and his earnest straight man to the choas and satire of the outrageous plot anchors the entire flick. I've been ga-ga for Catherine Keener since Johnny Suede. Only in Being John Malkovich and Walking & Talking have I found her more attractive and, well, fu*kable. I'm glad she's getting a shot at some more mainstream exposure, maybe leading to bigger and more complex roles.

Without spoiling any of the specifics (I think the trailers and TV spots have been good at setting up the basic premise without ruining many of the best gags and moments), I'll just say that it's a funny movie - a rare thing for a comedy these days.

Grade: B

[mecurdius]

This movie was great! i absolutley loved it! Everyone had a good performance besides cathrine keener, but she was ok looking. I loved this movie. Best dark comedy since snatch. If u like edward norton this is a must.

[bigvalbowski]

I haven't seen it. It's not out here yet.

But what do those who have seen it make of the critical reaction to Smoochy?

It's received a rather warm reception by the Internet Community but the national critics have slated it. Roger Ebert, for instance, gave it his lowest rating. I don't understand it. It seems that most critics have ripped into the movie because they somehow think that kids might be offended by it. But it's rated "R". Kids shouldn't be allowed into it.

[mecurdius]

To quote Big Daddy, "Critics are cynical ********"
basically they are stupid, why didnt they like vanilla sky? we may never know.....

[Sexy Celebrity]

Oooooh..... BAD movie!

I just got back from seeing it... and boy, if Edward Norton (who I love and can't keep my eyes off of) hadn't played Smoochy, there's no way I would have seen this. Points for him being shirtless in one scene, and sometimes he's wearing a beanie. Okay, I know you all don't wanna hear about my fetishes (well, maybe you do), but I haven't really reviewed a movie here, so deal with it.

It was just terribly constructed... the pacing was jet propulsion fast, I didn't care about it's "darkness" (literally, many scenes were filmed in the dark with Harvey Fierstein trying to not sound gay -- yeah, I'm terrified!) The cast was boring (except Edward Norton, and Robin Williams wasn't that bad, he's just not in the right movie).

I am big with movies that deal with the TV show world (I have my own series written up, but that's private stuff) so I just had different ideas on how this movie could have been much better. However, it was a disaster. Even the butch mafia woman (Tommy?) was wasted, and she seemed like someone I'd invent.
And those midgets.... well, finally, there's a movie where midgets are boring. But they shouldn't have been.

Sadly, I may buy the DVD when it comes out, just because of Edward Norton. Well, actually, that's not sad at all...

[Gideon58]

I really liked this movie...Edward Norton was brilliant.