Watch where you're going - bumface!! (Doctor Dolittle (DVD))

Member Name: Sarah_Louise

Product:	Doctor Dolittle (DVD)
Date:	03/10/03 (171 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny, The animals are hilarious!

Disadvantages: Not *quite* as funny as I was expecting, Silly, but then thats a good thing....

Its been months since my last film review so I thought it was about time I branched into film reviews again.

Why haven?t I reviewed any films for so long?

Well, its simple, I?ve not seen any films for months! In fact, I?ve not watched TV for months either! I never have time to watch TV these days! That was until the other night when I saw Dr Dolittle on ITV. As a comedy fan, Eddie Murphy fan and animal fan this was a must-watch film for me!


= = = Background info = = =

I?m sure most people are aware of what Dr Dolittle is about. However, there are a few of you out there who aren?t too sure (my parents being prime examples here, I mentioned I was watching it to them, to which they both looked at one another, looked at me and then simultaneously asked ?what?s that about then??
Sooo, in case you?re not too sure either, Dr Dolittle is about a Doctor (Eddie Murphy). He?s just your average Doctor until one day, whilst driving home, he knocks a dog over. He feels guilty. The dog, fortunately, is fine and gets up to walk away. When the dog gets up he shouts over to the Doctor and tells him to watch where he?s going in future.

Yes. You read it right. The dog talks! And not only does the dog talk, Dr Dolittle can hear it!
However, he is the only person who can hear it. It turns out, all animals can talk. Dr Dolittle can hear all the animals. And they can hear him back! Dr Dolittle can talk to animals! Word amongst the animal world soon gets out that this guy can hear them and that he?s a doctor. Animals soon start flocking (no pun intended) to see him.

It is actually based on the 1967 film titled, not surprisingly, ?Doctor Dolittle?. This starred Rex Harrison who could also talk to animals.


= = = What did Sarah_Louise think? = = =

Well, like I said earlier, I?m an Eddie Murphy fan, an animal lover and a fan of comedies so I was looking forward to this film.
Did it live up to expectations? In a word ? yes. It wasn?t quite as funny as I was expecting but it was funny nonetheless.

For its comic value alone I would rate this film 4/5.

It must have taken AGES to film ? after all, working with animals AND trying to get them to ?talk? is mighty difficult! Considering this, the film is great. All the animals play an important part in the film. The main animal star being that of ?Lucky?, Lucky, being the dog Dr Dolittle knocked down earlier on in the film, later becomes their pet. Lucky is a star in himself!
The other animals, e.g. Rodney the guinea pig, the rats, the tiger, the owl, the goats, the pigeons, etc?. all play important roles too.

Human stars though, include Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wilson aka Lisa (Dr Dolittles? wife), ?? aka Charisse (the eldest daughter) and ?? aka Maya (the youngest daughter).

The graphics were great too. The only time I actually noticed the computer aided graphics was on some of the tiger scenes, namely those when the tiger was ?talking?. You could make out that the mouth had been enhanced. However, having said this, it didn?t detract from the film at all.


= = = Conclusion = = =

It all sounds a little silly and far fetched, which it is, but don?t fear. This film is well worth watching. Do remember that most comedies are far fetched ? Dumb & Dumber being a prime example, absolutely hilarious, but really, as if!!

So, taking this into consideration, this film really is funny. Eddie Murphy comes across believable ? you do start to believe he can talk to the animals! However, the main star of the show has to be Lucky, the dog. He?s got a great sense of humour! And as for Rodney, he has to be the most hilarious critter on this planet!

All in all I?d give this film a 4/5. It wasn?t *quite* as funny as I was expecting but don?t let this put you off. It?s definitely worth a watch.


= =
= Boring bits = = =

Directed by: Betty Thomas
Genre: Comedy/family
Runtime: 85 minutes
Rating: PG


= = = Links = = =

The official site can be found here:
http://www.drdolittle.com/


= = = Your own copy = = =

You can pick up your own copy for about £5-£10. A VHS copy from Amazon will set you back £5.99.

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