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 | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

4 wins & 8 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Nov. 26

2:00 PM

NBC

Cast

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:

Revealing mistakes: Adult tigers weigh around 600lbs. However Dolittle's SUV doesn't squat an inch or bounce when the tiger enters and exits it on the way to the surgery.

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:

References Steel (1997)

Soundtrack:

Circus Parade

"Doctor Dolittle" does a lot with Chris Rock

OK, so "Doctor Dolittle" is mostly stuff that would only appeal to little kids, but it is worth seeing (I've actually never seen the original version, which I heard was a pathetic excuse for a movie). Eddie Murphy is, in my opinion, trounced in the movie by Chris Rock as the out-of-control hamster. I almost wish that they could have had more scenes with both Eddie Murphy and Ossie Davis (yes, Ossie Davis went so far as to take a role in this movie).

So, this movie's nothing special, but pretty funny nonetheless. Also starring Oliver Platt, Peter Boyle, Richard Schiff, and the voices of Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres (who would later co-star as the voices in "Finding Nemo").