HE DOESN’T JUST TALK TO THE ANIMALS!

Doctor John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) discovers that he can talk to animals, which hasn’t happened since he was a kid. This remake of the 1967 Rex Harrison vehicle is more reminiscent of The Nutty Professor (1996), with its special effects and bathroom jokes. The best part is how the animals talk… but the writers should have worked harder on the things they say. It’s not very funny, although Chris Rock is OK as a hungry guinea pig. At least the filmmakers decided against including the songs of the original film. 

1998-U.S. 85 min. Color. Directed by Betty Thomas. Cast: Eddie Murphy (John Dolittle), Ossie Davis (Archer Dolittle), Oliver Platt (Mark Weller), Peter Boyle, Richard Schiff, Kristen Wilson… Paul Giamatti. Voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Julie Kavner, Albert Brooks, Chris Rock, John Leguizamo, Gilbert Gottfried, Paul Reubens.

Trivia: Followed by four sequels, starting with Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001).

IMDb