Check out IMDb's Streaming Guide to see what's new on Netflix, find out if your favorite streaming show has been renewed or canceled, and more.
Related lists from IMDb users
Title: Doctor Dolittle (1998)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| 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 | |
Dr. John Dolittle has the world in his hands: A beautiful wife at his side, two adorable daughters and a career that could not go better. One night, he nearly runs over a dog with his car. The dog yells "bonehead" and disappears. From then on, his childhood ability is back: To communicate with animals. Unfortunately, the word of Dolittle's ability is spreading quickly. Soon, many animals from rat to horse flock to his place to get medical advice. But his colleagues suspect he's going mad, and as the clinic Dolittle used to work for is about to being taken over for a huge amount of money, many decisions have to be made. Believe him? Put him into a mental institution? Sell the clinic? But also his family is close to breaking apart. Until a circus tiger falls seriously ill. Written by Julian Reischl <julianreischl@mac.com>
Explore popular and recently added TV series available to stream now with Prime Video.
John Dolittle was a worrying child his father always caught him pretending to talk to animals and eventually had to get him to stop it. As an adult, his gift is long forgotten until he hits a dog with his car and hears it talk to him. When he realises that he is not going crazy and he can talk to them he is suddenly inundated with animals to treat, his family is falling apart and his business partners think their whole business is at risk.
Eddie Murphy basically rebuild his career around a couple of big comedy remakes which relied on humour and effects. Here the humour consists of good lines and the effects the animatronic animals. The plot is the weakest point of the film and, although it has a basic story, it never really involves or becomes important. Supporting the film then is some funny lines (rather than consistent jokes) from the animal support cast whether it be main characters (Rodney the hamster) or quick one-liners (`I am Kyser Soze').
The effects are surprisingly ropey they look good but they don't move naturally and the cuts between the real animals and the puppets are very clear. The support cast basically carry the movie and save it from being pretty dire stuff. Rock, Brooks, MacDonald, Leguizamo, Shandling etc all do good work and their dialogue basically consists of one-liners rather than anything else. Beside this the adult cast look like straight men. Murphy is quite dull and even the likes of Platt and Boyle (who usually do OK in small roles) have little to do.
Overall this is fun to watch simply because of the support cast and the regular sharp lines of dialogue from the animals. However, look for any more than that and you'll be disappointed.