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Doctor Dolittle Reviews

1998 Certificate PG
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 7345 members

Three features. In 'Doctor Dolittle', a remake of the 1967 Richard Fleischer film of the same name, an animal doctor whose patients bark, squeal, and meow finds that he can suddenly understand his patients, which upsets the practice. Eddie Murphy updates the role as a San Francisco doctor who as a boy was looked upon strangely .. Read more

Starring Eddie Murphy, Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, Chris Rock
Director Betty Thomas
Genres Comedy

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  • Critics' reviews (5) of Doctor Dolittle

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    Following the success of The Nutty Professor, Eddie Murphy completed his transformation from foul-mouthed, fast-talking comic to all-round family entertainer with this, the UK's second-highest grossing film in 1998 (after Titanic). Murphy plays a doctor whose life is turned upside down when his childhood gift — the ability to “talk with the animals” — returns. That's the cue for lots of juvenile gags from a host of guest voices (Garry Shandling, Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres), while the likes of Ossie Davis and Oliver Platt look on bemused. Betty Thomas directs proficiently, but Rex Harrison must be turning in his grave.

    • Radio Times
  • John Dolittle (Murphy) has a way with animals. His childhood was spent chatting to dogs - his father put it down to an... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • "...Raunchily funny wisenheimers." -- Rating: B+

    • Entertainment Weekly
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Doctor Dolittle

    View all
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Kids and Animals

    I didn't watch much of this film myself. With a six year old and a nine year old I was happy to have the time to myself. However the gales of laughter coming from the TV room and the subsequent re-enactment of all the key scenes and jokes told me that this was definitely a five star film for kids. I did see enough to know that it has absolutely nothing to do with the books by Hugh Lofting (which are, incidentally, quite brilliant). However Eddie Murphy is on fine form and the main (in fact the only) joke about animals talking is beautifully exploited.

      • A customer from London, England
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    yep you guesses it ? another hillarious comedy featuring the all time best comedian (Eddie Murphy) now i think after watching this movie and considered all other actors and reall y could not say that any one else could have pulled off what is a all round laugh a minute comedy.

    I found the dialogue to be perfectly accurate and the voice overs done superbly .. all casting roles were implemented with precise accuracy .. which i find rare in most films ... and way the overall film was excellent and the eddie his usuall self ..

    Well Done Cast for a superb film / Comedy

      • A customer from NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Funny

    It's nice movie, quite funny. But the sound is too low.

      • littlerabbit from london
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of Doctor Dolittle

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Funny

    It's nice movie, quite funny. But the sound is too low.

      • littlerabbit from london
  • Rated - 5 stars

    Excellent!

    The whole family watched this film including 2 small children. Everyone loved it! It was full of good, clean humour and the animation was so good that even if our 3 year old didn't understand the plot he laughed at the animals! I would thoroughly recommend it as a good family view.

      • A customer from Northampton, England
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Kids and Animals

    I didn't watch much of this film myself. With a six year old and a nine year old I was happy to have the time to myself. However the gales of laughter coming from the TV room and the subsequent re-enactment of all the key scenes and jokes told me that this was definitely a five star film for kids. I did see enough to know that it has absolutely nothing to do with the books by Hugh Lofting (which are, incidentally, quite brilliant). However Eddie Murphy is on fine form and the main (in fact the only) joke about animals talking is beautifully exploited.

      • A customer from London, England
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    yep you guesses it ? another hillarious comedy featuring the all time best comedian (Eddie Murphy) now i think after watching this movie and considered all other actors and reall y could not say that any one else could have pulled off what is a all round laugh a minute comedy.

    I found the dialogue to be perfectly accurate and the voice overs done superbly .. all casting roles were implemented with precise accuracy .. which i find rare in most films ... and way the overall film was excellent and the eddie his usuall self ..

    Well Done Cast for a superb film / Comedy

      • A customer from NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Funny

    It's nice movie, quite funny. But the sound is too low.

      • littlerabbit from london
  • Rated - 5 stars

    Excellent!

    The whole family watched this film including 2 small children. Everyone loved it! It was full of good, clean humour and the animation was so good that even if our 3 year old didn't understand the plot he laughed at the animals! I would thoroughly recommend it as a good family view.

      • A customer from Northampton, England
  • Rated - 5 stars

    Even though everyone probably knows the story previously, it's worth watching this film to see how Eddie Murphy tackles the situation of everyone thinking he is completely MAD - when in actual fact, he can just talk to the animals. Actually I didn't miss the singing of the Rex Harrison version, and found this far more entertaining. Can't wait for Dr. Dolittle 2! Wahoo!

      • Eva#1 from SANDERSTEAD
  • 1 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Good Watch

    Good laugh, spent afternoon sat down as a family and the kids loved it! (Girl 3, boy 7)highly recommend

      • A customer from Northwich, England
  • Rated - 3 stars

    all ok now

    we have now installed another DVD player into the system that connects to our Plasma screen so should not have the problems we have had with our main player saying it does not recognise the disc So we can carry on renting

      • A customer from banbury england
  • Rated - 5 stars

    Excellent!!

    This is a really enjoyable movie for those rainy Sunday afternoons, cuddled up in front of the box.

      • A customer from wokingham
  • Rated - 5 stars

    Doctor Dolittle (1998)

    Doctor Dolittle (1998) A fantastic family film.

      • A customer from England
  • Rated - 4 stars

    dolittle

    i found doctor dolittle 2 was much better than this,may be its because the animals had funnier lines in 2 this is still good to watch this got a 4 star from me only because dolittle 2 made me laugh

      • mac from luton beds
  • Critics' reviews (5)

  • 3 stars out of 5

    Following the success of The Nutty Professor, Eddie Murphy completed his transformation from foul-mouthed, fast-talking comic to all-round family entertainer with this, the UK's second-highest grossing film in 1998 (after Titanic). Murphy plays a doctor whose life is turned upside down when his childhood gift — the ability to “talk with the animals” — returns. That's the cue for lots of juvenile gags from a host of guest voices (Garry Shandling, Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres), while the likes of Ossie Davis and Oliver Platt look on bemused. Betty Thomas directs proficiently, but Rex Harrison must be turning in his grave.

    • Radio Times
  • John Dolittle (Murphy) has a way with animals. His childhood was spent chatting to dogs - his father put it down to an... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • "...Raunchily funny wisenheimers." -- Rating: B+

    • Entertainment Weekly
  • "...A herd of talented animal performers..."

    • USA Today
  • "...Mischievous fun..."

    • New York Times

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    • Three features. In 'Doctor Dolittle', a remake of the 1967 Richard Fleischer film of the same name, an animal doctor whose patients bark, squeal, and meow finds that he can suddenly understand his ...

Rating breakdown

7,345 Member ratings
  • 100
312
  • 90
283
  • 80
755
  • 70
1,102
  • 60
2,090
  • 50
1,101
  • 40
768
  • 30
369
  • 20
382
  • 10
183

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