Search - Death to Smoochy [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Humor, Profanity Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 09/17/2002 Format: DVD - Soft-Matted WSE for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 49 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Total Copies: 3 Genres: Comedy, Black Comedy, Showbiz Comedy See Also: Death to Smoochy [Fullscreen]

Danny DeVito steps behind the camera for this darkly funny satire that combines elements of Barney and Friends with the real-life Pee-Wee Herman scandal while recalling the director's previously twisted black comedies Throw Momma From the Train (1987) and The War of the Roses (1989). Robin Williams stars as Randolph Smiley, a popular children's show host known professionally as "Rainbow Randolph." Dismissed from his beloved job when he's caught taking payola, Randolph becomes increasingly mentally unhinged and the target of his delusional revenge fantasies is Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton), otherwise known as Smoochy, the fuchsia rhino character that has replaced him and soared to national popularity. Randolph soon learns that his ex-girlfriend and network executive Nora Wells (Catherine Keener) is sleeping with Sheldon, so he sets out to kill Smoochy, egged on by an unexpected ally: corporate president Marion Frank Stokes (Jon Stewart), who should be profiting from Smoochy's rise to fame, except for the fact that he and his cronies are unable to control the idealistic Sheldon's on-air agenda. Death to Smoochy (2002) co-stars Harvey Fierstein, Vincent Shiavelli, and Michael Rispoli. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Dark laughs penetrate director Danny De Vito's black comedy Death to Smoochy. The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and sports a very solid transfer. The colors (lots and lots of them) and black levels are all detailed and well saturated without any imperfections to mar the image. Overall, Warner has done a very nice job with this film's picture. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in English and French. This is a very pleasant 5.1 mix that features a good amount of directional effects and sounds. While the film isn't a heavy action movie, there are some great effects that pop out of both the front and rear speakers. All aspects of this mix are free and clear of any hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc are English, French, and Spanish subtitles. Death to Smoochy sports a fair amount of extra features, starting with a lively commentary track by director Danny De Vito and director of photography Anastas Michos. This is a very informative commentary that features De Vito slathering the cast and crew with praise, as well as stories about the film's production. Ten deleted scenes (with title card explanations) are included that allow the viewer to see what ended up on the editing room floor. "The Magic Cookie Bag" includes five galleries (production, costume, set design, behind-the-scenes photos, etc.) while a reel of bloopers and outtakes shows how funny the cast can be when they flub their lines. Finally, there is a neat behind-the-scenes documentary with tons of footage from the shoot, three trailers for the film, some DVD-ROM content, cast and director highlights, and a pointless "Interactive Ice Show" that allows the viewer to rearrange the angles from that specific scene. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide