Doctor Dolittle (1998)

Director:

Betty Thomas

Writers (WGA):

Hugh Lofting (stories)
Nat Mauldin (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 June 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Tagline:

He doesn't just talk to the animals!

Plot:

A Doctor finds out that he can understand what animals are saying. And the animals find out that he understands.

Plot Keywords:

Animal | Dog | Tiger | Doctor | Owl

Awards:

4 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Eddie Murphy	...	Dr. John Dolittle
Ossie Davis	...	Archer Dolittle
Oliver Platt	...	Dr. Mark Weller
Peter Boyle	...	Calloway
Richard Schiff	...	Dr. Gene 'Geno' Reiss
Kristen Wilson	...	Lisa Dolittle
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Dr. Fish
Kyla Pratt	...	Maya Dolittle
Raven-Symoné	...	Charisse Dolittle
Steven Gilborn	...	Dr. Sam Litvack
Erik Dellums	...	Jeremy (as Erik Todd Dellums)
June Christopher	...	Diane
Cherie Franklin	...	Mrs. Parkus
Mark Adair-Rios	...	Intern
Don Calfa	...	Patient at Hammersmith

Also Known As:

Dr. Dolittle (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude humor and language.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #35966) | Iceland:L | Brazil:Livre | Netherlands:6 | Netherlands:AL (video rating) | Norway:7 (TV rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Portugal:M/6 | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Aquatic Park, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Very few elements from the original film or books were used in this film. A few notable exceptions are Dolittle's committal to a mental hospital, the scene in which John gives the horse glasses (made of magnifying glasses) and the appearance (however briefly) of the Pushmipullyu in the background at the circus.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Gene and Mark are walking downstairs to check out Mark's nose after it has been broken, Mark is wearing a wedding ring. However, in the next shot when they find John in the room, the wedding ring is no longer on Mark's finger.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lucky: [narrating] You know, they say the great thing about being a kid is, it's so easy to pretend. You can have a conversation with your dog or a baseball or a banana. Well, what if wasn't pretend? What if you could have a conversation. I mean, not with a baseball or a banana - that's ridiculous, but - but with your dog?

Movie Connections:

Features "Mister Ed: The First Meeting (#1.1)" (1961)

Soundtrack:

Talk to the Animals

Highly underrated

This is a very underrated movie. The comedy was pretty good. This one is just too underrated by many people. Acting was good enough. Eddie is still good and I enjoyed him as Dr. Dolittle, a doctor who can talk to animals. The plot is Dr. Dolittle finds out he can talk to animals. When he tells people this, they think he's crazy. Soon enough he has to save a tiger in the zoo. The plot is a little dumb but overall I liked the movie.

Overall the acting is good enough, the plot isn't that bad but it's not good, and this had enough laughs to pass by. Rating 7 out of 10.