Williams’ star rises again in dark comedy ‘Smoochy’

In theaters

DEATH TO SMOOCHY, directed by Danny DeVito. Written by Adam Resnick. 109 minutes. Rated R.

Danny DeVito’s new comedy, “Death to Smoochy,” isn’t for the eternal optimist, those seeking the lighter side of life on a movie screen or for fans of children’s television programming.

It’s not for the easily pleased, those with a quick smile for the inane, or for anyone who prefers anything sunny side up.

That said, the film will probably delight fans of Edward Gorey and Gary Larson. It’s closer to DeVito’s “War of the Roses” than it is to his “Matilda,” a movie whose absurdist point of view and dark, biting edge will likely turn off those determined to see the good in everything just as vehemently as it will turn on those who don’t.

The film, from a script by Adam Resnick, is about the ugly fall from grace of Rainbow Randolph, the cheerfully manic star of a popular children’s television show portrayed by Robin Williams as if the actor himself knows a few things about falling out of favor with the public, which, after bombing with “Patch Adams,” “Bicentennial Man” and “Jakob the Liar,” of course he does.

But Rainbow Randolph finds Williams reborn, eschewing the sentiment that has soured his most recent movies in favor of a caustic, cynical, often vulgar edge that’s as bracing and as jarring as being slapped by a stranger.

Thrown off his show for taking bribes from parents eager to see their little Johnny on television, Rainbow is eventually replaced by Smoochy the Rhino (Edward Norton), a goody-goody, folk-singing vegetarian who’s so sickeningly sweet, he can sing “My Stepdad’s Not Mean – He’s Just Adjusting” without a trace of irony.

Smoochy is one of those rare TV types who actually wants to use his fame to make the world a better place. No, really. But since he’s dealing in the cutthroat world of kiddie television, that proves impossible to do without first being forced to market some sugary cereal and plastic toys to his target audience of bug-eyed toddlers while, in the process, also scoring some death threats from an increasingly insane Rainbow Randolph.

With DeVito on board as Smoochy’s duplicitous manager and Catherine Keener perfectly insensitive as Smoochy’s bitchy producer and then knowing love interest, “Death to Smoochy” has a terrific supporting cast and enough clever, lively writing to make its Barney bashing seem not pass?, but just as relevant and as important today as it was when Barney first collapsed into a purple puddle several years ago – and took the Teletubbies with him.

Grade: B+

On video and DVD

LIFE AS A HOUSE, directed by Irwin Winkler. Written by Mark Andrus. 128 minutes. Rated R.

Irwin Winkler’s “Life as a House” stars Kevin Kline as George Munroe, a divorced, middle-aged, out-of-work architect trying to fix his broken relationships before cancer fixes him.

With only four months to live, the task at hand is monumental – George took a wrecking ball to his relationships years ago. But he nevertheless believes that by tearing down his old shack of a house and building his dream home with the help of his 16-year-old son Sam (Hayden Christensen), he can also rebuild what’s left of his disappointing life and reconnect with himself and his family before it’s too late.

Grade: C

Christopher Smith’s reviews appear Mondays and Fridays in Style, occasionally on Fridays on E! Entertainment’s “E! News Weekend,” Tuesdays on “NEWS CENTER at 5” and Thursdays on “NEWS CENTER at 5:30” on WLBZ-2 and WCSH-6. He can be reached at BDNFilm1@aol.com.