Did they do little or more ? (Dr. Dolittle 2 (DVD))

Member Name: utero

Product:	Dr. Dolittle 2 (DVD)
Date:	31/07/01 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Murphy, animal effects

Disadvantages: R&B soundtrack, weak plot, Lil' Zane

When the first Dr Dolittle was released I was dragged alone by my younger brother to see it not expecting much. What I got was an entertaining kids film that served a purpose. Now a few years later I find myself once more dragged along to see the sequel.

Not much has changed for Dr Dolittle, his popularity with the animals shows no signs of slowing down as he helps them with their problems like only he can. One night he is approached by a member of the animal mafia, in this case a racoon who summons him to a meeting with the boss-a beaver. It turns out that the animals woodland habitat is about to be cut down and Dolittle is the only one who can help. The only way he can stop some ruthless businessmen from getting out the saws is if her can get an endangered species of bear to mate. The female is in the woodland but the male is a performaing bear who knows none of the natural bear instincts. Dolittle has to play mentor and cupid at the same time.

There are a few ways you can look at this sequel. It's pointless looking at it from an adult perspective, this is a film for kids. This is a genre that sometimes transends it's target audience and is loved by all. Dr Dolittle is not one of those films. The kids will love it however as we get a wide range of animals ranging from a drunk monkey to the aforementioned animal mafia. The animals talk of course as well as having some great mannerisms. In this aspect I have to say the effects department done an excellent job of animating mouths and expressions. There are also a lot of well known people behind the animals voices including Steve Zahn and Lisa Kudrow.

On the human side, Eddie Murphy is of course returning as Dolittle. I've been a fan of Murphy for a long time and sometimes he general manner can raise a smile for me. He does it here with line delivery like only he can, in fact he makes the film.

But there are some negative things. The makers have obviously tried to pepper
the script with a few things to keep the adults happy. Sadly this seems to be resorting to toilet humour which is now becoming a comedy cop-out. A bears toilet functions are funny to the kids with loud sound effects, this much I can bear but seeing a tortoise on viagra really isn't that great a gag. The plot of the film as well is a bit thin and I've seen the evil corporation flattening forste thing before. By the end we have some scene mishaps as it seems not only Dolittle can hear the animals speak even though this is the impression we get. There's also a lot of un-necessary R&B music on the soundtrack that seems put there to sell some records. A weak subplot between Dolittle and his daughter also is unncecessary as is her hip hop boyfriend played by rapper Lil' Zane. He has no real place in the film and is pointless.

But hey I smiled more times than I expected to throughout the film and the kids more so and at the end of the day that's what counts with a film like this.

Summary: