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Doctor Dolittle
1998 85 min United States of America PG-13 12+
★5.6
Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Director: Betty Thomas
🎭 Based on
«The Story of Doctor Dolittle»
byHugh Lofting
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
A successful physician and devoted family man, John Dolittle seems to have the world by the tail, until a long suppressed talent he possessed as a child, the ability to communicate with animals is suddenly reawakened with a vengeance! Now every creature within squawking distance wants the good doctor's advice, unleashing an outrageous chain of events that turns his world upside down!
Budget:
$71M
US Gross:
$144.16M
Worldwide:
$294.5M
Starring
Eddie Murphy
Actor
Peter Boyle
Actor
Ossie Davis
Actor
Awards
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1999
— Best Original Song
Key opinion
Doctor Dolittle is largely remembered as a charming, family-oriented vehicle that successfully pivoted Eddie Murphy toward more mainstream, accessible comedy. While critics and audiences note a conventional plot and occasional reliance on tropes, the film remains widely praised for its animal characterizations and heartwarming tone.
| Production | The technical execution of the animal characters—combining voice work with effective 90s-era animation—is widely regarded as the film's strongest asset. | |
| Acting | Eddie Murphy delivers a charismatic, nuanced performance that successfully anchors the story and signals his transition into family-friendly cinema. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay provides an engaging, wholesome message about family and life priorities, though it relies heavily on predictable and conventional plot beats. | |
| Humor | Humor is a point of contention: some viewers appreciate the witty, dry commentary provided by the animals, while others find the comedic payoff thin or inconsistent. |