Just Finished Watching Death to Smoochy (2002)

I didn’t know what to expect coming in to this film. All I knew that it had Robin Williams, and I found the film from a clip of him dancing through the streets and faceplanting to the wall (btw just watch the whole thing, it’s a great love letter to the late Robin Williams).

I was disappointed that the MC wasn’t Robin but was Ed Norton who plays Smoochy. Only for a bit though because Ed killed it and greatly portrayed this bundle of ethics character that had an anger management problem deep deep deep down.

The plot was wack but the characters and their interactions with one another were the highlight of the film.

Robin Williams still played a significant part in the movie, but I wished he was used better. He was eclectic as Rainbow Randolph, never really felt scary as a villain but maybe that was the point.

Anyways it was an enjoyable experience, 7/10.

    • counselwolf@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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      1 year ago

      Yeah he was definitely a good “villain” in One Hour Photo, he was eery to say the least.

      I’ve watched most of Robin Williams’ films and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of it.

      My favourite, by far, is still Dead Poets Society.

      • El Barto@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Awakenings made me cry in a time I was indoctrinated into the idea that boys don’t cry.

        Edit: Of course, nowadays I don’t believe in that shitty “boys don’t cry” attitude.

        • pixelmeow@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          If someone doesn’t cry while watching Awakenings, I’d have to question their humanity. Flowers For Algernon had the same effect on me.

    • tree@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I didn’t find him particularly scary in Insomnia, but he was believable and his character had depth which meant a lot more in the context of the film.

      Insomnia is still a bit underrated, buried in the larger Nolan canon. It’s an incredible and inventive crime drama, but probably (one of?) Nolan’s weakest. Which is to say it’s broadly only like an 8/10.

  • Moobythegoldensock@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Haven’t watched it in years, but it’s one of my favorite dark comedies. Edward Norton, Robin Williams, Danny DeVito, and John Stewart, what’s not to love?

    It’s a rocket ship!

  • OogieBoogieMan@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I thoroughly enjoyed that movie and how different it felt to other films at the time. Some good, dark, zaniness

  • protokaiser@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I remember news stories when the movie came out; parents were taking their kids to the movie because they didn’t understand what it was about. I thought the R rating would have been enough.

    • counselwolf@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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      1 year ago

      Maybe a super clip (is that the right term?) of all the Rainbow Randolph and Smoochy the Rhino scenes could be a good show for kids.

  • TinyPizza@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Randomly thought about this movie last night and started humming “friends come in all sizes”. It’s a classic in my opinion.

  • duffkiligan@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    If you thought Robin Williams’s character was supposed to be the villain I fear you have missed the point of the movie greatly.

    The villain of the movie is mental illness and interpersonal relationships. They give you a hint right at the beginning when Smoochy is playing at a Methadone clinic.

  • billy_bollocks@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Ha this movie used to be a cult classic back when there were movie stores still around.

    Robin ‘Rainbow Fucking Randolph’ Williams kills it as usual

  • ZephyrXero@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I remember renting this from a Blockbuster around the time it came out. It was this great twisted take on the Barney era

  • Jaytreeman@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    I have a family member who did security on that film. He met Robin, and developed a very short friendship with him. (apparently they had coffee together on set a few times, which means that Robin would have had to go out of his way, as either he went on break with security or hung out while family was on duty)

  • z3rOR0ne@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Dating myself here, but saw this in theaters when it released. Brilliant. One of Robin Williams’ best performances imho.

  • Psythik@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Of course I remember it. They wouldn’t stop showing trailers on TV!

    Never seen it, though. I’m not a fan of Robin Williams.

      • Psythik@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Same reason while I don’t like Will Ferrell. They’re stereotypically cast in roles that allows them to act like manchildren. There’s always your exceptions like Bicentennial Man and Stranger Than Fiction, but overall they tend to play the same kind of character and I’m just not into it.

      • Psythik@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Good to know, thanks. I liked his performance in Bicentennial Man, so if his performance is anything like that then maybe I should give Smoochy a chance.

        Thanks again for the recommendation.

        • ThePac@lemmy.ml
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          1 year ago

          It’s true. At least he’s not in all of it?

          The movie is so good.

  • famousblueben@lemmy.film
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    1 year ago

    My stepfather, who I adored, was an instant huge fan of Death to Smoochy after it came out on home video and would often sing the line “Stepdad’s Not Mean He’s Just Adjusting”