5. Death To Smoochy
Why is this on here, you ask? This is an outright dark, biting, and depressing movie that is in no way inspirational. Well I would argue that this kind of movie is one of the most inspirational kinds of movies of all. Death to Smoochy plays like a thinly-veiled biopic for what Mr. Rogers probably had to go through to get his work on the air. It is a brilliantly-colored dark comedy pulling no punches nor sugarcoating the greed in this world and the atrocities being committed in the names of children and family. Yet Death to Smoochy believes wholeheartedly in real peoples ability to help make a dent in the world. That makes it authentic and identifiable. If you ignore or downplay the darkness of the world, youre not going to make it better. Edward Nortons Sheldon Mopes a.k.a. Smoochy the Rhino does good for the sake of goodness itself. He emanates honesty, positivity, compassion, and universal acceptance, and jumps at the chance to talk with kids and adults about all aspects of the world, bad and good. Or at least level with them to encourage them toward better paths whenever he can. Sheldon faces many obstacles along the way. Many, many obstacles. At first it seems that theres no way his simple friendliness could ever be taken seriously, let alone get him anywhere. Cynical television executives hope to make a profit from him. Villains with their own agendas, from Rainbow Randolph to Tommy Cotter, seem to stand in his way. But Smoochys compassion appeals to most of the characters in the movie eventually. By standing so unashamedly proud against the bad things, as well as taking the time to understand their elements (as some are misunderstood and some are truly dark), Death to Smoochy is a movie that can truly be called optimistic. For those of you who would avoid this movie because of subject matter you deem inappropriate, think about why its there. You should watch it. Because what good are our imaginations if we cant defend their principles, even in the face of corporate America? Death to Smoochy is a productive way of talking about that, and anyone could benefit from considering it.