In the classic Rex Harrison musical based on Hugh Lofting's book series,
Dr. John Dolittle is a man who has dedicated his life to the linguistic
study of animals, hoping to devise a way of communicating with them.
His long years of effort eventually pay off, much to the delight of
eager viewers like me. More recently, Eddie Murphy
adopted the moniker Dr. John Dolittle for a film whose premise is only
similar in the most basic of ways. John also develops the ability to
talk to animals. But he doesn't want it. He rejects his ability, and it
takes most of the family-friendly comedy for him to come to grips with
it. In Dr. Dolittle 2, however, he has finally embraced this
gift. It's his embarrassed teenage daughter Charisse (Raven-Symone) who
has a problem with it.
Dr. Dolittle 2 is just as
innocuous as the first film. It's a firmly PG movie about family
togetherness and the preservation of the environment. John, concerned
about the growing rift between him and Charisse, proposes a European
family vacation to get away from all the eager pet owners demanding his
attention. However, he has to put the plans on hold when he receives a
plea from several forest creatures to save their home from destruction
by business mogul Joe Potter (Jeffrey Jones). He can see only one way of
doing it: releasing Archie (Steve Zahn), a rare species of bear
previously living in a circus, into the forest and matching him up with a
mate. The judge to whom John appeals agrees the replenishment of the
species is a worthy cause and grants him a month to get Archie
acclimated and amorous.
Zahn brings his usual laid-back,
slacker style to the voicing of Archie, who isn't all that interested in
the plan - at least until he falls for Ava (Lisa Kudrow), the intended
object of his affections. While John tries to teach Archie to fend for
himself in the wild, the bear must figure out how to impress the
initially disdainful Ava. Meanwhile, John's relationship with Charisse
continues to deteriorate, and he still has to deal with the ailments and
complaints of a variety of other animals while he puts Archie through
his Rocky-style training regimen. Wise-cracking mutt Lucky (Norm
McDonald) narrates the story, putting a comical spin on everything John
does and embarking on a side adventure of his own.
A lot of
the humor in the movie is aimed at kids, with slapstick the most
prevalent brand of comedy. Whether it's rats eating their way out of a
birthday cake or chickens launching eggs at farmers in solidarity with
the forest dwellers who fear losing their home, director Steve Carr
gives us plenty to laugh at. Some of the jokes rely on bodily functions,
with one particularly onerous scene involving Archie attempting to use a
restaurant rest room; the movie really didn't need those moments, and I
wish they hadn't been included. Also, a bit in which Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin
gets attacked by an alligator seems distasteful now in light of his
death. Most of the humor is inoffensive, though, and I found Murphy more
likable in the role the second time around.
With so many
different animals voicing their opinions throughout the movie, there are
quite a few fairly famous folks in minor roles that might send you
running to IMDb, among them Andy Dick, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Isaac
Hayes, Michael Rapaport and Frankie Muniz. The special effects are
decent, so while the moving of the animals' mouths sometimes looks a bit
cheesy, it's not distracting, and because most of the movie is set in a
pristine patch of forest, there are some pretty scenic landscapes.
Dr. Dolittle 2
is rather corny and predictable, but it's also a fun movie the family
can enjoy together. If you've ever longed to talk with the animals, I
recommend hobnobbing with Rex Harrison first, but Eddie Murphy's fresh
take on the concept also promises plenty of entertainment.
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