Directed by Danny DeVito / Written by Adam Resnick
Starring Robin Williams, Edward Norton and Catherine Keener
109 mins / Warner Bros. / Rated R
Retail: $26.95 / Street: $25

Academy Award Winners?

Death to Smoochy is a dark satire about children's television and the terrible hosts behind them. Because of his indiscretions Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) is sacked from his lucrative television show and is soon replaced by Smoochy (Ed Norton). Needless to say, Rainbow will do whatever it takes to get to the top of the television heap.

The problem with the movie is that it isn't edgy enough to be a cult it or bad enough to be mocked mercilessly like Swept Away. On the other hand, it really isn't all that good - it's not funny, it's not romantic and it's not dramatic, despite trying to be all three.

It's a failure because it was a movie with so much potential. Featuring three leads who have been nominated for Academy Awards and a veteran actor/director behind the camera, the movie really had everything going for it. Even the script show some hints of brilliance. But for some reason, when all of the elements are mixed together, it becomes a terrible combination.

And it's not like the cast is terrible either. Sure, Williams is his usual over-the-top self, but that's what we've come to expect. Edward Norton is perhaps a little miscast as the down to earth children's performer and Catherine Keener really doesn't get to show off all of her skills. But maybe that's what makes the movie so bad - a lot of little missteps and mistakes that ultimately add up to one bad movie.

Movie Grade: C-

Video: 4 out of 5
The transfer is really good. The black levels are nice and dark, skin tones balanced and the crazy colors of the set come through bright and shiny.
Widescreen anamorphic - 1:85:1

Cookie Dong!

Audio: 4 out of 5
The tracks have great range, some nice base and are general well imaged between the front tracks.
English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Extras: 4 out of 5
There's quite a few nice supplements. Although DeVito doesn't always make for the most interesting speaker, he does acknowledge the movie's failure. Recorded separately from the Director of Photography, the commentary is well cut together, and gives a ton of really nice practical and technical hints on the making of a movie. Perhaps it's a little more geared towards the film student crowd, rahter than the casual fan. There's deleted scenes, a nice behind the scenes featurette, bloopers, and boatloads of photos and art. The disc is a single disc in a keep case.

Overall: 3 out of 5
If not for the nice supplements, this disc would have received a much lower score. Rent this disc to satisfy your curiosity factor, but don't buy it unless you're a film nerd.

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