Doctor Dolittle Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Eddie Murphy gets bonked on the head and suddenly realizes squirrels are just furry gossips and his medical career is about to go to the dogs…and cats, and hamsters, and tigers…you get the picture.

🍿 Doctor Dolittle: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Childhood Gift Suppressed

As a young boy, John Dolittle discovers he can talk to animals, a talent that amuses him but worries his father. After a series of embarrassing incidents, including an ill-fated encounter with the school principal and a minister, his father arranges for him to see a therapist. John is ultimately forced to suppress his ability, leading to a disconnect from the animal world.

Rediscovering the Ability

Thirty years later, Dr. John Dolittle is a successful physician in San Francisco, with a wife and two daughters. He’s on the verge of a lucrative deal to sell his practice to a large medical company. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he accidentally hits a dog while driving. He hears the dog yell at him, triggering the return of his childhood ability to understand animals. Initially, John is terrified and confused by the voices he hears. He struggles to cope as animals begin flocking to him with their medical problems.

Embracing the Animal Kingdom

As Dr. Dolittle reluctantly begins to use his ability to help the animals, he finds a renewed sense of purpose in his work. He befriends a dog named Lucky, who becomes his confidant and guide in navigating the animal world. He must help Jake, a suicidal tiger with a brain tumor, while trying to keep it all secret from his family.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Dr. John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy): A successful doctor who rediscovers his childhood ability to communicate with animals, leading to chaotic and heartwarming situations.
• Lucky (Norm MacDonald (voice)): A sarcastic stray dog who becomes Dolittle’s confidant and helps him navigate the animal world.
• Lisa Dolittle (Kristen Wilson): Dr. Dolittle’s wife who initially struggles to understand and accept her husband’s newfound ability.
• Maya Dolittle (Kyla Pratt): Dr. Dolittle’s younger daughter, a quirky and animal-loving girl who embraces her father’s gift.
• Calloway (Peter Boyle): The head of a large medical company who attempts to buy Dolittle’s practice, representing corporate greed.
• Archer Dolittle (Ossie Davis): John’s father who initially dismissed his son’s ability to talk to animals but later comes to accept it.
• Jake (Albert Brooks (voice)): A depressed circus tiger with a brain tumor that Dr. Dolittle tries to save.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Lucky: “Watch where you’re going next time, you bone-head!” – The first line John hears from an animal after regaining his ability, spoken by the dog he almost hits with his car.
• Rodney: “What’s up with that trap behind the fridge? You trying to kill me?” – Rodney, the guinea pig, confronts Dolittle after spotting a trap.
• Jake: “I’m a tiger with double vision and a headache. What’s majestic about that?” – Jake, the tiger, lamenting his condition to Dr. Dolittle.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $71,500,000
• Domestic Gross: $144,156,605
• Worldwide Gross: $294,456,605

💥 Doctor Dolittle Reviews

Personal Review

I remember seeing this as a kid and thinking it was hilarious! Eddie Murphy talking to animals – what’s not to love? Watching it again, the humor is definitely more juvenile than I remembered. I still laughed, especially at Chris Rock as the hamster, Rodney. Overall, it’s a fun, lighthearted movie to watch if you don’t take it too seriously. The nostalgia factor is high for me!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Eddie Murphy”
  • “Families looking for lighthearted entertainment”
  • “Animal lovers”
  • “Viewers who enjoy silly humor”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Crude humor”
  • “Mild language”
  • “Some suggestive content”
  • “Animal distress (briefly depicted)”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While Murphy delivers his usual comedic energy, the film relies too heavily on crude humor and predictable plot points. The animal voice cast is impressive, but the overall experience is uneven. The movie is suitable for young audiences, but lacks depth for adults.
• RogerEbert.com: “”Doctor Dolittle” offers some amusing moments, primarily from the animal voice cast. However, the film suffers from a weak storyline and over-reliance on potty humor. Murphy’s performance is decent, but the movie fails to capture the charm and wit of the original stories.

Audience Reactions

The animal voices, especially Chris Rock as Rodney the hamster, were the funniest part of the movie.: Most viewers found the movie humorous and entertaining, particularly enjoying the animal characters and their voice acting.

Nostalgic value of this movie is pretty awesome and memorable.: The movie has a nostalgic charm that appeals to those who watched it during their childhood.

Overall Consensus: A lighthearted family comedy with some funny moments, primarily driven by the animal voice cast, but lacking depth and sophistication for older audiences. The movie’s crude humor may not appeal to everyone.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Eddie Murphy, despite playing a character who loves animals, is reportedly terrified of them in real life. This required extensive use of CGI for animal interactions.”
• “The film is a loose adaptation of Hugh Lofting’s Doctor Dolittle stories, but it modernizes the setting and tone, leaning heavily into comedy.”

🖥️ How to Watch Doctor Dolittle?

Doctor Dolittle (1998) is available to rent or purchase on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Doctor Dolittle, you might like these similar films:

• Babe (1995): Features talking animals with distinct personalities, blending humor and heartwarming moments.
• The Nutty Professor (1996): Another Eddie Murphy comedy remake from the same era, showcasing his comedic talent with a family-friendly premise.
• Paddington (2014): A modern family film that successfully blends live-action with a CGI animal character, creating a heartwarming story.
• Zootopia (2016): While animated, it features a diverse cast of talking animals with distinct personalities and social commentary.

🛒 Doctor Dolittle Related Products

• Doctor Dolittle (1998) [Blu-ray]: Own the movie in high definition with enhanced picture and sound quality for a better viewing experience.
• Doctor Dolittle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the movie’s memorable moments with the official soundtrack featuring popular 90s artists and memorable songs. Stream or download for easy listening.
• Doctor Dolittle Pop! Vinyl Figure: Add this unique collectible to your Funko Pop! collection and show off your love for this classic movie. The figure depicts Eddie Murphy as Dr. Dolittle with one of the animal characters.
• Dr. Dolittle Kids Graphic T-Shirt: Let your kids showcase their love for Dr. Dolittle with a comfy and stylish graphic tee. Available in various sizes and designs featuring iconic characters from the movie.

🎧 Soundtrack

Doctor Dolittle features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Are You Ready” – performed by Aaliyah
• “Push ’em Up” – performed by Eddie Kane & DeVille featuring D.J. Toomp

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Doctor Dolittle took his dog to the vet…😂

Prepare to laugh out loud as you witness the hilarious encounter between Dr. Dolittle and his dog at the vet’s office in this viral clip from the movie. This short but impactful scene perfectly captures the film’s lighthearted and entertaining nature.

He can hear the dog talking…#shorts #movie

Get a glimpse into the extraordinary world of Dr. Dolittle in this compelling clip. Witness the moment he discovers his ability to understand animals, setting the stage for a series of adventures and mishaps.

A DOCTOR discovers he has the POWER to TALK to ANIMALS and his LIFE turns into CHAOS – RECAP

Get the full story of Dr. Dolittle’s extraordinary journey in this informative recap. From his initial surprise to his hilarious adventures, this video takes you through the movie’s key moments, leaving you wanting more.

✨ Rate