Doctor
Dolittle (1998)
Not as funny as "Nutty Professor," and a bit on the
mild side, especially for Eddie Murphy, "Doctor Dolittle"
is nonetheless an enjoyable, if slight, diversion.
For one thing, this film isn't full of foul borderline
obscenities as was "Nutty Professor." While there are
the obvious fart, piss and shit jokes inherent in an
Eddie Murphy vehicle full of animals, the worse word
uttered is probably "ass." Unfortunately, the jokes
here seem juvenile rather than hilarious. Worse yet,
the best of them were in the film's commercials and
trailers.
Murphy mellows down into family man and father role-playing
here and seems all the more lame without his usual edge.
He also plays a professional doctor, albeit going through
a seeming mid-life crisis, with a rather reserved manor.
None of this makes Murphy funny. Instead he lets what
the animals do carry the jokes and spends more time
on a sweet, although sappy and typical, subplot involving
his daughter Maya (Kyla Pratt), who struggling with
feeling like a weirdo. Pratt is so sweet, cute and perfect
in her role, she actually makes this work and Murphy
relates to her so perfectly, we can't help but liking
the two.
As for the animals, there's a regular Equity rally
going on with the voice casting. Voice characterizations
are performed by Norm McDonald (a dog), Albert Brooks
(a tiger), Chris Rock (Guinea pig), John Leguizamo (rat),
Julie Kavner (pigeon), Gary Shandling (pigeon), Ellen
Degeneres (dog), Brian Doyle- Murray, Jenna Elfman (owl),
Gilbert Godfried, Paul Ruebens (aka PeeWee Herman),
and Jonathan Lipnicki (the kid from "Jerry Maguire)
among others. This is where the jokes come from. The
animals have the good parts while Murphy either plays
daddy, doctor, or husband going a bit crazy.
Director Betty Thomas does everything right even if
that means everything commercial and proves herself
more a director to be taken seriously for her comedies
at every turn. She is one to watch.
"Doctor Dolittle" may have disappointed me but everyone
else seemed to like it. Kids, especially.
Notes:
Also with Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, Jeffrey Tambor,
and Raven-Symone.
Script by Nat Mauldin and Larry Levin based (loosely)
on novels of Hugh Lofting
Music by Richard Gibbs. Pop songs by All Saints (covering
Labelle's "Lady Marmalade"), Dawn Robinson (covering
Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady"), Sugarhill Gang (featuring
Grandmaster Melle Mel), 69 Boys, Jodie Watley, Louis
Armstrong, Robin S, and Changing Faces.
Animals sing "Get Down Tonight" (KC & Sunshine Band),
"Blowin' in the Wind" (Bob Dylan), and Murphy references
"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor and "Rocky 3."
Also made in 1967 with Rex Harrison (totally different
plot) and in 1927 as a German film called "Dr. Dolittle
and His Animals."
Filmed in California on a budget of $70 million.
Review written in 1998
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