Here's something different. The dark cloud of corruption thunder-storming all over the giddy kiddy-world of children's programming.

Robin Williams plays Rainbow "f'n" Randolph. On the air, he's smiley, open and happy, "Friends come in all sizes." But off the air, he openly accepts bribes from parents eager to get their kids on the set. And the corruption just keeps going up into the hierarchy of the network broadcasting and their "charity" sponsors.

When Randolph slips up and embarrasses the whole scheme; innocent, naïve, hippie/environmentalist Edward Norton (as Smoochy the Rhino) is collected to bring some (albeit cosmetic) integrity back to the station.

Smoochy and Rainbow Randolph aren't the only cartoony characters; they're just the only ones in silly suits. Still, aside from a mid-film lull, the production clips along quite well, driven by long strings of sarcastic (often profane) dialogue. Smoochy's undying passion for soul, purity and decency is the exception. All of which make him the target of hardball players insisting that he play ball.

The first five minutes play rather unrehearsed, but after that, the rhino starts to roll. You'll have to listen hard for some deeply embedded wordsmithing. I love the phrase DeVito uses to describe Smoochy's disposition, "A Fetish for Ethics" and the hard-hearted producer who tells him straight to his face, "You were delivered like a bag of groceries, I have more emotionally investment in my nail polish than I do in you."

Yes the film sputters and misses at times, but it never stops trying. Indeed, it does play host to some very very funny scenes. You'll just love the funeral scene. And Tommy and Spinner are simply wonderfully lovable characters splendidly realized by Pam Ferris and Michael Rispoli, respectively.

Btw, the film displays some of the most wonderful ending credit visuals I've seen in a long time.

Having missed the screening, I viewed this one at a regular showing populated by all of 10 people. At the end, some of them actually applauded. One person said disappointingly, "I expected it to be funny." And another, "Screwy, but good." Don't bring the normal expectations (or the kids). Instead, prepare for a twisted collision of "Barney" "The Fisher King" and "Serpico."