Death to Smoochy

It is so refreshing to see Robin Williams turn 180 degrees away from the string of insultingly sappy fiascoes he's been making lately and dive headlong into this relentlessly dark farce that takes place in the fictitiously cutthroat world of children's television. Williams plays a psychotic kiddie show clown fired from his job and bent on murdering Edward Norton, a principled chump in a purple rhino suit plucked from obscurity to take his place. Smoochy the Rhino becomes a national sensation singing songs like "My Stepdad's Not Mean, He's Just Adjusting." Meanwhile, Williams tries to sabotage the show ("Welcome to Fatty Arbuckle land!" he cackles maniacally when substituting the rhino's sugar-free soy goodies for the studio audience kids with a bag of obscenely-shaped cookies). Directed by Danny DeVito, Death to Smoochy is wickedly twisted, thorny and tart--and it keeps getting weirder as Williams' insane campaign escalates toward an absurdly operatic ice-show finale. Williams and Norton are joined by Catherine Keener as a cynical, sexy network hellcat. Not for all tastes, and most definitely not for kids, this is nevertheless recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director and co-star Danny DeVito and director of photography Anastas Michos, an eight minute behind the scenes documentary, 10 additional scenes (including the extra song "Last Nappy Time") with brief text introductions, four minutes of bloopers and outtakes, the "Interactive Ice Show" (where viewers can play director and select camera angles), trailers, cast and crew notes, and a "Magic Cookie Bag" containing stills, costume and production design information, and the slow slide show "Smoochy's Summer Vacation." Bottom line: a solid extras package for a love it or hate it film.] (R. Blackwelder)