The holy fool is often perceived as an innocent who knows little or nothing about the ways of the world. What he has to offer others -- a new way of being based on kindness and compassion -- is viewed as useless in a culture obsessed with getting ahead and conspicuous consumption. The holy fool skips lightly through a world littered with the landmines of selfishness, greed, and violence. Sometimes, he miraculously touches the lives of others, helping them to see there is hope for humanity.
Death to Smoochy is a rude, crude, black comedy about the cutthroat world of children's television. This over-the-top drama scripted by Adam Resnick, a writer and producer for The Larry Sanders Show is directed with manic energy by Danny DeVito. Only those with a high threshold for outrageous characters, zany one-liners, and extravagant set pieces will be able to slog through to the upbeat finale. It is well worth the trip if only for the holy fool who proves to be a catalytic character with contagious goodness.
When Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams), the star of the highest rated kid's show on TV, is caught by the Feds accepting bribes, his career is flushed down the toilet and he's treated like a pariah. Kidnet executive M. Frank Stokes (Jon Stewart) orders Nora Wells (Catherine Keener), the show's producer, to find a "squeaky clean" replacement. She hires Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton), an idealistic fellow who entertains drug addicts at a Coney Island methadone clinic.
This holy fool actually loves kids and wants them to see all the wild possibilities. He's not the slightest bit interested in peddling them sugar, toys, and games. Sheldon's Smoochy is a puffy fuscia rhinoceros who believes in optimism and hope. Nora can't stomach his goody-goody approach to everything. Sheldon's new agent, Burke Bennett (Danny DeVito), is a wheeler-dealer who lands him a new contract as executive producer of the show but secretly despises what he calls his "fetish for ethics."
Suddenly Sheldon is a media superstar wielding power. Enemies who want to pull him down or use him for their own purposes swirl around him like vultures. Rainbow Randolph is obsessed with revenge and dreams up several schemes to end his rival's short career. Merv Green (Harvey Fierstein) wants Smoochy to put on an ice show for charity but he plans to skim off large profits for himself. And Tommy Cotter (Pam Ferrus) is an Irish mobster whose dim-witted brother Spinner (Michael Rispoli) goes gaga for Smoochy. These two bring untold complications into Sheldon's hectic life.
Perhaps the biggest clue to Shelton's role as a holy fool is that he soon learns to ride the currents and surrender to the flow. He connects with the jaded and hyper-cynical Nora and even manages to reconcile with Randolph. He is an urban mystic who turns the tables on all the control freaks around him. His motto is "You can't change the world but you can make a dent." Now that's a savvy bit of spiritual wisdom.
The DVD edition boasts some fun extras: behind-the-scene footage with interviews, a bloopers and outtakes compilation, an interactive game based on the scene at the Ice Show, still photos, star biographies, and production notes. There is also an audio commentary with director Danny DeVito and cinematographer Anastas Michos.
