I first reviewed Stewart's filmography. I forgot that he was in Big Daddy, a film a caught one night on cable. (Am I the only one who thinks the basic premise was barrowed from Nick Hornby's About a Boy?). The films I did see were not better, and Stewart, enjoyable as he can be cracking wise on the state of the U.S.A., is not very memorable as an actor. In Playing by Heart, Stewart has the task of holding his own against Gillian Anderson. The film is even more of a chore to watch with overly theatrical dialogue that gets in the way of enjoying Angelina Jolie, Sean Connery and Gena Rowlands. Anderson portrays a stage director with movie posters throughout her house. Playing by Heart was pretty much over for me when I found myself gazing wistfully at the poster for Peyton Place, a much more watchable film.

The critical consensus that Death to Smoochy is unfunny is correct. DeVito has proven himself with black comedy primarily with War of the Roses. There are a few interesting connections to note: Smoochy was written by Adam Resnick, a staff writer for former Oscar host David Letterman, and writer of Cabin Boy. DeVito directed Billy Crystal in Throw Momma from the Train. Stewart and Chris Rock appeared in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. While Vincent Schiaveli blows away Stewart in his few minutes of screen time, hopefully Stewart will have a few zingers for the Academy Awards.

In doing research, I noticed that in his only film appearance, Johnny Carson appeared as himself in the forgotten Sixties musical Looking for Love. In these times when we will be inundated with Brokeback Mountain jokes, it's awkward to look back at a time when, without irony, there could be a film with a character named Gaye Swinger.