Dolittle does more than just talk to the animals he introduces our inner innocence to a fantasy world that deserves to be explored by the child in us all
I was originally introduced to the nutty world of Dr Dolittle as a wide-eyed child in 1967 by way of the movie musical starring Rex Harrison, Anthony Newley, Samantha Eggar and the then commoner Richard Attenborough. . .
The characters were later introduced to a new audience when Eddie Murphy revived the good Doctor in the $70 million 1998 remake.
An obviously more ambitious venture than the $9million predecessor. Eddie also starred in the sequel Doctor Dolittle 2 but did not sign on for next three spin-off movies.
Now in 2019 Robert Downey Jr. in the title role reveals his inner animal magnetism in the heavily reliant on CGI $175million remake
Adapted from the series of 12 books the story is joyous and filled with harmless childish fun.
The character of Doctor Dolittle was created by author Hugh Lofting after he witnessed regimental horses wounded and slaughtered on the battlefields of World War 1. As a form of self-therapy to escape the horrors of his surrounds he wrote and illustrated the stories of the multi-lingual and extremely unusual Dr John Dolittle in letters he wrote to his children from the blood-soaked muddy trenches.
Although severely canned by many of the high brow critics, as far as I’m concerned this latest whimsical romp into the kind-hearted animal-loving world of this vegetarian, veterinarian, is just what the Doctor ordered
Downey Jnr. and his talented ensemble of vocal co-stars uses their star power to introduce these endearing characters to a new generation of readers who in today’s world are constantly overwhelmed by superheroes who seem to only solve all their problems through violence.
If you are unaware of the premise of this story it will not take long before you realise that the totally charming, and more than slightly odd Doctor has been taught ‘to talk to the animals’ by his multi-coloured social advisor Polynesia.
The film opens with an animated sequence which describes how due to the emotional heartbreak of his wife’s death seven years earlier Dolittle becomes a self-indulgent, long-haired, scruffy-bearded recluse who hides away from the world in his own private menagerie where he regularly plays mouse-chess with a Gorilla.
With such an amazing supporting cast as Emma Thompson as over concerned Macaw, Rami Malek as a Gorilla who is battling low self-esteem, Kumail Nanjiani as the unstable Ostrich, Ralph Fiennes as the desperate-to-please-his-mummy tiger and Jason Mantzoukas, as an annoying, yet heroic dragonfly.
Set in Victorian England Doctor John along with his unusual crew set out on a perilous sea voyage to the island of Sumatra, to find the legendary, mystical Eden fruit that will cure the Queen from a grave illness.
Desperate to foil the good Doctor’s quest is his dastardly evil nemesis from University, Dr Blair Müdfly played with exceptionally enjoyable wickedness by Michael Sheen. Along his journey, he encounters ruthless opposition from his former father-in-law Rassouli the king of the pirates played by an almost unrecognisable Antonio Banderas.
Unfortunately suffering from far too many bad reviews this harmless child-friendly family flick is lacking at the box office.
Overflowing with happiness, goodwill, and plenty of ‘be kind to animals’ sentiments this delightful piece of storytelling may now never really be appreciated by the young audience the original stories were written for. This is a shame and will obviously restrict the possibility of a sequel and that is a pity.
Concept Photo Design (c) 2020 By Beata Gombas
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