Robert Downey Jr is Dolittle
The very first Dr. Dolittle movie I saw, was not the one starring Eddie Murphy, but the 1967 adaption that I found on TV in the early 90s. Being a lover of animals, I was immediately captivated by that movie. A few years past and the comedic Eddie Murphy versions hit the big screen which were really fun and entertaining. Fast forward to today and we have a brand new Dolittle to look forward to. This time around we get a loose adaptation of the 1923 book “The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle”.
Synopsis
Dr. John Dolittle lives in solitude behind the high walls of his lush manor in 19th-century England. His only companionship comes from an array of exotic animals that he speaks to on a daily basis. When young Queen Victoria becomes gravely ill, the eccentric doctor and his furry friends embark on an epic adventure to find a cure.
Robert Downey Jr. is cast as Dolittile himself and is surrounded by an amazing animal cast. The voice cast consists of Tom Holland, Emma Thompson, Selena Gomez, Ralph Fiennes, John Cena, Rami Malek, Octavia Spencer, Antonio Banderas, and Craig Robinson.
This movie is extremely charming despite having a slow start that later picks up and progresses at a good pace. It was hard for me to get used to Downey Jr’s accent after seeing him as Iron Man for so long, but once I overlooked that, the movie was extremely enjoyable and amusing. I loved all the different animals and their accompanying personalities that were voiced by some surprising A-List stars. Most of the humor comes from the furry co-stars as they land some really hilarious lines, and steal the spotlight from RDJ.
This movie is not that long, sitting at 1 hour and 41 minutes. Kids and adults alike will really enjoy this adventure that has solid CGI and great visuals.
Verdict
I give Dolittle a 7.5 out of 10 and would love to see more adaptations of the books with Robert Downey Jr. and company.
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Watch the movie on Prime Video.
Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.