Death to Smoochy
![Watch film Death to Smoochy — Death to Smoochy (2002) Original Trailer [FHD]](https://www.acmodasi.in/amdb/images/posters/0/92/death-to-smoochy-2002-R2lB8.webp)
Short description
Death to Smoochy centers on Rainbow Randolph, the host of a popular children's television show who loses his job after a bribery scandal. The network replaces him with Sheldon Mopes, a sincere performer who wears a pink rhinoceros costume as the character Smoochy. The new act becomes a hit with young viewers, which fuels Randolph's resentment and drives him to plot against his successor in an effort to win back his old position.
Danny DeVito directed the film, the sixth in his directing career after Throw Momma from the Train, The War of the Roses, Hoffa and Matilda, and before Duplex. Adam Resnick wrote the screenplay. Robin Williams plays Randolph and Edward Norton plays Sheldon, with Catherine Keener as television executive Nora Wells. DeVito appears as Burke Bennett, Jon Stewart as Marion Frank Stokes and Pam Ferris as Tommy Cotter. The production involved Warner Bros. Pictures, Film4 Productions, Mad Chance and Senator International, with a budget of 50 million dollars and a worldwide box office of about 8 million dollars.
Audience responses were mixed: on IMDb the film holds 6.3 out of 10 from roughly 44,000 votes, while on TMDB it has 5.9 out of 10 from about 461 votes. A critics' rating of 5.3 out of 10 from 119 reviews places it somewhat below the audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- A photograph of a rhinoceros hangs on the wall in Sheldon's house (played by Edward Norton). After filming ended, the actor took the photo and hung it in his own home.
- Hank Azaria was initially cast in one of the roles, but he soon left the project to film Joe Roth's comedy "America's Sweethearts" (2001) and was replaced by Jon Stewart.
- The film was financed by the British company FilmFour. The film's box office failure led the company to bankruptcy.
- According to Edward Norton, Danny DeVito approached him with an offer to appear in the film while in Montreal, where Norton was filming Frank Oz's thriller 'Arthur's Gold' (2001) and DeVito was filming the thriller 'The Big Divide' (David Mamet, 2001). DeVito offered him the role of Rainbow Ranfold, which was eventually played by Robin Williams. However, after reading the script, Norton asked for the opportunity to play Smoochy instead.
- Robin Williams, who played Rainbow Ranfold, was friends with director Danny DeVito and his wife Rhea Perlman. He had long dreamed of working with DeVito. When Jim Carrey declined to work with DeVito in order to film Frank Darabont's romantic drama 'Majestic' (2001), DeVito offered the role to Williams.
- When Edward Norton's character dances on a park bench in Manhattan, the North Tower of the World Trade Center is visible in the frame.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
