For the past several years, the enjoyment of any film starring Robin Williams has significant base in the viewer’s own enjoyment of Williams himself. His latest, “Death to Smoochy” has Williams as a demented, spotlight-hungry children’s television host named Rainbow Randolph (think Capt. Kangaroo meets Liza Menneli with a little Gilbert Godfry thrown in) who will give a kid some face time on his show if the price is right.

Randolph’s payola scheme is uncovered minutes into the film and a replacement is soon found in Edward Norton’s (“The Score”) earth-friendly do-gooder in a fuchsia rhino suit (think “Cheers” bartender Woody Boyd meets Barney with a dash of Ron Howard).

Smoochy’s popularity with the masses, Randolph’s revenge and the seedy underbelly of children’s television fill in the rest of “Smootchy’s” two hours, and the result is as mixed as they get.

The premise is original enough, but the execution falls short. Danny Devito’s direction is imaginative to a point, but again, the recommendation of this film rests mainly on one’s personal preference towards that hairy, lovable (or irritating) personality of Williams. So it’s Choose Your Own Adventure — er, review time in ArtsEtc. Williams Worshippers: Read on. Robin Revolters: Skip ahead.

We Wuv Williams

Robin, Robin, Robin! Your bag of tricks — although sometimes borderline annoying — is as eventful as it is entertaining. Sure, you’ve had your rolls in the mud (“Toys,” “Bicentennial Man,” “Nine Months”) but your latest string of films will remind us all why you are America’s favorite spaz.

His Rainbow Randolph, the first in three upcoming against-type roles, is played wickedly and naughty with a good mix of vulgar humor and slapstick antics. We have seen what too much of these things can do (“Jack” anyone?). But here, Williams walks the thin-line well and the result is an energetic (yet not too hyperactive) performance. A key in his balancing act is his truncated screen time, far less than most actors with top billing. He enters the scene, steals it, ignites a lagging storyline, gets beat-up and is gone for another 20 minutes.

In between Randolph sightings, the film holds together — just not too well. Devito’s initial pace screeches to a slow crawl, and through clever directing, we become weary and eagerly await William’s next tornado-like appearance.
To be sure, “Death to Smoochy” is no Robin Williams vehicle. He is the definite highlight and merely supports in his role, but he does so very, very well.

GRADE: B

Kiss off funny boy

Robin, Robin, Robin! When will you learn? Funny voices and running into walls lost their appeal in third grade. Take some Ritalin and get out of the theater. Is there any script this guy won’t do?

His Rainbow Randolph in the dark comedy (using the first term literally, as Devito’s interesting direction is heavy on shadows) is the fifth nail on the chalkboard of a bad movie hand. The other four? Williams. Williams. Williams and Williams. He yells, falls down repeatedly, and does little more acting than a wind-up toy.

It may be thankful that he is not the lead role in “Smoochy,” but that’s assuming the rest of the film could stand on its own. It doesn’t. Norton’s “gee, golly, gosh” character grows as tired as the film’s pace. His rise to the top, to the bottom, back to the top gets us dizzy, disoriented and disinterested. The sub-plots do not make up for the lack of substance, and if it weren’t for Devito’s engaging camera work and a few funny moments (Smoochy’s sing-along to “My stepdad’s not mean, he’s just adjusting”), the film would be a complete waste of time.

Calling Williams the highlight isn’t a lie, it just shows you the caliber of the film as a whole.

GRADE: C