Dolittle Movie Review

The following is an article “Dolittle” by Marc Primo.

Release date: 17 January 2020 (USA)

Directors: Stephen Gaghan

Language: English

Production Companies: Roth/Kirschenbaum Films, Team Downey Pictures, Perfect World Pictures

Producers: Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Susan Downey

Perhaps one question rings in the mind of die-hard Iron Man and Robert Downey, Jr. fans right now-- what the hell was he thinking? From possessing the Infinity Gauntlet to engaging in conversation with CGI animals, Downey’s version of Dr. Dolittle does little for the imagination of adult viewers but may still get the stamp of approval from the kids for whom the film was intended in the first place.

What audiences will probably miss in Dolittle is Downey’s seemingly innate charm which was evident not only in his ten-year stint in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Tony Stark but also in his other hit franchise Sherlock Holmes.

Downey plays the eccentric and anti-social (to humans at least) Dr. John Dolittle, resorting to seclusion after his wife passed away leaving him to tend to the animals they devoted their lives to on his own. His hermit-like lifestyle was however disturbed as two children bring him the news that the Queen of England is ill and should everything go south, his estate is in peril from the Queen’s successor. After being convinced by the talking Macaw Polynesia (Emma Thompson), Dolittle sets off on a voyage to find the cure.

Some familiar voices audiences can pinpoint in Dolittle are Kumail Najiani’s ostrich, Jason Mantzoukas’s dragonfly, and Rami Malek’s gorilla. What audiences may cringe at though is Downey’s unbecoming Welsh accent throughout the film. Somehow, his performance in Dolittle is a far cry from his usual quirky and energetic onscreen personas that make it all the weirder as he talks to animals.

Director Stephen Gaghan (Syriana), also seems out of place to be at the helm of a children’s movie given his more serious track record in film and television. What results is another dismal production similar to the cursed 1967 Doctor Dolittle which cast and crew were also questionable in every aspect.

Never mind the high-profile cast and enormous budget. Dolittle capitalizes on the menagerie that does way more talking than necessary and therefore fails to capture audiences’ attention. Thanks to the proper inclusion of some cast members like Antonio Banderas, who plays the king of pirates Rassouli, and Michael Sheen as Dolittle’s rival Dr. Blair Mudfly, there are still some minutes of the film worth watching.

Regardless of how little thought was put into Dolittle’s production, what works is its appeal to kids even if it all boils down to the magic of talking animals. Somehow it can be deemed educational if only for audiences who are still developing their cognitive intelligence. As for adults who are following Downey’s career, the movie can be a huge letdown after seeing all the action and star-power the actor invested in as Iron Man.

For a seemingly kid-friendly adventure comedy, parents can also use a little discretion on all of the redundant toilet humor. Everything in Dolittle seems to be forgettable, including a script that only appeals to those whose age is lower than eight. Simply put, spare yourselves the trouble if you are an adult but watch it with your kids if you think talking animals would entertain them. Just make sure you have ample toilet paper by your side for all the unnecessary butt jokes or if ever you need to cry for another animal movie we don’t really need.

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