Directed by: Betty Thomas
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Oliver Platt, Richard Portnow, Peter Boyle, Kristen Wilson, Kyla Pratt, Raven Symone, Paul Giamatti, Ossie Davis, voices of Chris Rock, Norm Macdonald, Jenna Elfman, Gilbert Gottfried, Albert Brooks
Dr. John Dolittle (Murphy) is a well-off San Francisco doctor with a thriving practice about to be sold for millions, a loving family, and a gift (which he thinks is a curse) of being able to hear and talk to animals. He was able to do so as a child, but found a way to repress this until one day, he hears a dog named Lucky (Macdonald) give him hell for nearly running him over.
Dolittle adopts Lucky, but soon after, all different types of wildlife descend on his home looking for treatment for various maladies. Dolittle reluctantly and covertly aids the animals, but finds it to be very rewarding. This doesn't prevent him from being briefly institutionalized under the "care" of Dr. Blaine (Giamatti), an envious medical school rival who makes it his mission to keep Dolittle at the institution. The animals themselves are voiced by familiar actors who are mostly delivering amusing wisecracks and insults.
Murphy himself used this role as a springboard to varying success as a family-film leading man. In Dr. Dolittle, he finds the right mix of sympathy and humor in his predicament. It takes him time to process the idea that he can communicate with animals. Yes, they conveniently all speak English, except for one who speaks Spanish. But Dr. Dolittle exhibits a sweetness with its protagonist and its cute animals who all only want a little help from someone who understands them.
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