A so-called comedy that is only funny when it's not trying to be. One of the three movies where Robin Williams played a dark deranged character, but unlike Insomnia and One Hour Photo, which both brilliantly channeled his manic energy into chilling and effective dramas, here he's just allowed to run wild. The only times he's actually funny is when he gets repeatedly roughed up.
The central premise is the greatest comedic flaw: that children's entertainment shows are hotbeds of greed, corruption, and lust. Rainbow Randolph (Williams) is caught in a bribery scandal and the network hastily scrambles to find a replacement show host and settles on Smoochy the Rhino (Ed Norton) on the basis of his wholesome and saintly reputation. Naturally Randolph plots revenge in various underhanded and increasingly desperate schemes.
There is a great ensemble cast that I enjoy watching play off each other. My favorite character is Tommy Cotter, the matriarch of the local Irish mob, who is both utterly ruthless to her enemies and motherly protective of anyone she considers family. The movie never drags and is always entertaining to watch these demented characters interact.