Rotten
Slim on story and rife with scatological jokes, the film may strike a chord with pre-teens but misses for an older crowd despite some nifty effects and broad humor.
Leonard Klady, Variety
Doctor Dolittle
He doesn't just talk to the animals!
1998 · 1h 25m · PG-13
Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Directed by
Betty Thomas
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Doctor Dolittle
Overview
A successful physician and devoted family man, John Dolittle seems to have the world by the tail, until a long suppressed talent he possessed as a child, the ability to communicate with animals is suddenly reawakened with a vengeance! Now every creature within squawking distance wants the good doctor's advice, unleashing an outrageous chain of events that turns his world upside down!
Director and cast
- Betty Thomas Director
- Eddie Murphy as Dr. John Dolittle
- Ossie Davis as Archer Dolittle
- Oliver Platt as Dr. Mark Weller
- Peter Boyle as Calloway
- Richard Schiff as Dr. Gene Reiss
- Kristen Wilson as Lisa Dolittle
- Kyla Pratt as Maya Dolittle
- Jeffrey Tambor as Dr. Fish
- Steven Gilborn Cast
- Raven-Symoné Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
44%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Murphy's likeable, the script's laden with a gaggle of one-liners, and there's even a vague message nestling beneath the zoological chaos.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Fresh
The movie will not harm anyone, and in the audience I saw it with, lots of parents and kids seemed to be laughing together.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Fresh
The old actor's rule -- never work with animals or kids -- has never seemed more apt. The animals steal the scene from Murphy every time, and he gives it up gladly.
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
Rotten
Dr. Dolittle runs out of ideas long before the projector runs out of film.
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
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