Death to Smoochy
dir. Danny DeVito · 2002
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Dark / Comedic
Look
garish colors and exaggerated set designs reflecting the absurdity of the narrative
Structure
episodic with a focus on character-driven vignettes
Plot
Tells the story of Rainbow Randolph, the corrupt, costumed star of a popular children's TV show, who is fired over a bribery scandal and replaced by squeaky-clean Smoochy, a puffy fuchsia rhinoceros. As Smoochy catapults to fame - scoring hit ratings and the affections of a network executive - Randolph makes the unsuspecting rhino the target of his numerous outrageous attempts to exact revenge and reclaim his status as America's sweetheart.
Why watch
"Death to Smoochy" is a darkly comedic exploration of the cutthroat world of children's television, where innocence collides with moral decay. With its absurd characters and satirical edge, this film invites viewers to laugh at the outrageous lengths one will go to reclaim fame.
Cultural context
critique of celebrity cultureexploration of media ethicscommentary on children's programmingthe rise of reality television