Yup-It is the second Friday of the month and Mock and the Armchair Squid have started a film society where we watch a film each month and review it. Last month we all chose our own films (mine was "Strangers On A Train") and then we were to pick a film from one of the others and critique the film they chose. Toi Thomas chose "Death To Smoochy".
This film came out in 2002 and stars Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener and Danny De Vito who also directed. It royally tanked at the box office and was given nasty reviews. Robin Williams was nominated for a Razzie but thankfully they gave it to the deserved Hayden Christiansen for his portrayal of Darth Vader-more like a whiny Dr. Evil but oh well.
I think people didn't take well to Robin Williams playing a big A-hole. It is also a very caustic look at the behind the scenes look at a kid's show. It has since been getting a cult following and I always wanted to see this film and see if it is as bad as they say.
I enjoyed it! This does mean that yes I like bad ass language which there is allot in this film and I love the dark style of this film. It doesn't pull any punches since we all wish that purple dinosaur would be caught inflagrante delecto, with the purple teletubbie. The acting is not A1 as there is some over the top style but I didn't mind it and Robin always saves the day with his wicked one liners. I enjoyed the late Vincent Shiavelli who comes in late at the scene and seems to suffer from narcolepsy. The writing is wicked and I never thought I would see a children's ice capade with a singing Wagnerian Valkyrie, Nazis and death but it was all good:) The plot seemed to go a little off near the end (see what I just wrote) but overall I give it a good thumbs up.
My favourite scene is when Robins Williams is dancing through the city a la Gene Kelly. I am glad I saw this film finally and it was filmed in Toronto and Hamilton!
Oh If anyone can help, I can't seem to leave a comment for Toi and yet I chose her film. When I tried to connect through Google plus my computer froze-grrrr. Since I am not computer savvy any help would be appreciated:)
PS My A to Z is the previous Post-I for "John Ireland" :)
I'll have to check into this movie. I'll have to ask hubby too if he's seen in. Does sound like an interesting one.
ReplyDeletebetty
It is better than I thought it would be
DeleteI skipped this one after all the awful reviews. May have to give it a go one of these days now.
ReplyDeleteI also skipped it back then because the title sucked! I think the title, Robin Williams playing a vile guy and the critics panning it made it sound worse than it really is.
DeleteI've never seen this film or, indeed, heard of it. I'm not a huge DeVito fan, so maybe I'll give this one a miss.
ReplyDeleteYes-it is , I think, an acquired taste because it is nasty and their is allot of foul language
DeleteHave to say this movie was so bad. Wifey and I tried to watch it as we are huge Robin Williams fans. But this was just awful.
ReplyDeleteStopping in from A to Z and thanks for the continued participation!
Stephen Tremp
A to Z Co-host
Twitter: @StephenTremp
Yup this is not part of my A to Z that is the post below this one:) Hahahaaaa I didn't mind this film at all
DeleteOh, this is one of his films I haven't seen yet. Must watch.
ReplyDeleteHave a fantastic weekend!
I would give it a chance-Have a great weekend:)
DeleteI've not seen this one partly because the title sounds dreadful to me. Also, Robin Williams can be so over the top that I find him annoying in some films. Although I thought he was very good in his more serious roles.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
A Faraway View
The title sucks! Robin Williams does over act in some areas but in others he is just downright nasty which was different for him at this point. Don't let the title defer you-it did for me for years
DeleteIs this an example of a movie being so bad it's good?
ReplyDeleteActually, to me...no:) Now Attack of the Killer Shrews is a bad movie that is great to watch.
DeleteThe older I get the more I really don't want to waste my time watching a movie that for me is sub-par. Not a huge DeVito fan and even Robin Williams can make my teeth itch. I like him but in small doses.
ReplyDeleteA movie that every other word is disgusting and the swearing is constant is off my list. Is that really the way people talk ? I have issues with our language and the lack of it. Sometimes a well placed caustic swear word does work but after the first 50 after that it is bean soup.
The movie sounded interesting and I did want to see it at one time. But I just really can't get past it all.
Just watched your pick from last month. Wonderful review. Tension and suspense everywhere and not one time did I hear fu*k. Maybe I miss that ?
Terrific review, you almost made me rethink my list but I have so many films I want to see that I just can't be bothered to watch this one.
cheers, parsnip
Oh Pass on this one because you will dislike it. It is quite a bit of Robin Williams and he does overdo it a little but not too much(I have seen him do much worse) and there is tons of swearing so pass on this one. Glad you liked Strangers On A Train
DeleteI skipped this one. I'm not sure why. Maybe I'll catch it eventually.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't comment on someone's blog yesterday, either. Every time I tried to get on the site, I got an error message. Maybe if you try later you'll get through?
Catch it on TV if it ever shows up but you have to like that kind of film. I tried more than once to see if I could leave a message but alas, so far no go
DeleteI haven't seen this one yet but i understand Robin Williams is the avenging Rainbow Randolf. I'll have to find out why later.
ReplyDeleteHe's a bad boy and wants to do the Rhino Smoochy in. Smoochy takes his timeslot away. This happens pretty early in the film-well, the first 10 minutes
DeleteIt scares me that I think I saw this movie but I can't remember for sure!
ReplyDeleteOh you might have and maybe you turned it off:)
DeleteI never saw this one, but the name is familiar. I don't really remember hearing about it. I did like reading your thoughts. Sounds different!
ReplyDelete~Jess
Oh it was a big bomb and all the actors would talk about it after in not a great way:)
DeleteI never heard of this one either. I can't imagine anything starring Robin Williams is bad.
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday and weekend, Birgit!
I didn't mind it at all but it would not appeal to everyone. Happy Friday to you too:)
DeleteI haven't seen it, then there's lots I haven't seen. hahaha
ReplyDeleteThat said, your review does tickle my intrigue bone… so I might have to give it a peek.
Sent with smiles, Jenny, Pearson Report
2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
@PearsonReport
It may not be for everybody since it is dark and has allot of swearing but I kinda like it-suited the film
DeleteI don't care for clowns, so skipped this Robin Williams' film. But, now, after reading your review, I want to see it. I want to see Robin dancing ala Gene Kelly.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can YouTube the scene. He is not nearly as good as Gene but I felt they took this bit from that famous dance scene in "Singing In The Rain" just remember..not as good:)
DeleteThis was a fun and dark film. And it did make it better that it was Robin playing that character! Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteWell one person who has seen the film:) He did add to the character since he was out of character playing someone so nasty
DeleteI like dark humor and would love to see Robin William dancing through the city a la Gene Kelly but it's not on Netflix instant and it's not available to borrow through my library... Crap! (I'm pretty lazy about searching out entertainment!)
ReplyDeleteI was happy to find it at our video store. Yup that scene you know came from the Kelly film but he is no where close to being the same as Kelly but still nice to see
DeleteI thought this was a pretty clever movie, and Iike Donna above said - I like the dark comedy. Good choice.
ReplyDeleteThanks:) It is dark
DeleteWe did watch it years ago but I remember very little about it. Jon Stewart speaks most self-deprecatingly about his own role in the film.
ReplyDeleteBoy does he ever and he has the worst haircut in that film-looks like he was trying out for the Little rascals
DeleteI've never even heard of this film, but it doesn't surprise me that RW was in it. He did like to "stretch his wings" when he could as an actor. Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
ReplyDeleteHe did and this film bombed when it came out but it is now getting a cult following
DeleteGreat review...perhaps I'll check YouTube for the dancing scene....
ReplyDeleteYup check it out:)
DeleteCatching up after a busy weekend. I'm so glad you chose my movie and didn't hate it. It's funny that I keep sharing this movie with others and always have to give the warning that this isn't the Robin Williams you're used to and it's a little dark. I find that more people don't hate this movie now than when it came out. I guess it grows on yo after a while. :D
ReplyDeleteYou are right! People were not used to Robin Williams being this vile plus the title was not good. It is becoming a cult classic now I believe:)
Delete