Dolittle (film)

Dolittle (2020 film poster)

Dolittle is a 2020 American fantasy adventure film directed by Stephen Gaghan and written by Gaghan, Dan Gregor, and Doug Mand from a story by Thomas Shepherd. The film is based on the character Doctor Dolittle created by Hugh Lofting, and primarily inspired by "The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle", Lofting's second Doctor Dolittle book. It stars Robert Downey Jr. as the title character, alongside an ensemble cast featuring Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, and Jim Broadbent, with voice performances by Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, John Cena, Kumail Nanjiani, Octavia Spencer, Tom Holland, Craig Robinson, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, and Marion Cotillard. The film depicts a physician who can talk to animals embarking on an adventure to find a legendary island with a young apprentice and a crew of strange pets.

Plot

After the loss of his wife seven years earlier, the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle, famed doctor and veterinarian of Queen Victoria's England, hermits himself away behind the high walls of Dolittle Manor with only his menagerie of exotic animals for company. However, when the young queen falls gravely ill, a reluctant Dolittle is forced to set sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure, regaining his wit and courage as he crosses old adversaries and discovers wondrous creatures.

Production

The film underwent significant reshoots in the spring of 2019, with director Jonathan Liebesman helping to oversee them alongside Gaghan, due to Universal Pictures' concerns over the film's creative direction. The reshoots were aimed at enhancing the film's comedic and visual elements.

Release

Dolittle was released in the United States on January 17, 2020, by Universal Pictures. It was originally set to be released on April 12, 2019, but was moved to avoid competition with Hellboy and then was delayed further to January 2020.

Reception

The film received generally negative reviews from critics, who criticized its story, humor, and direction, although Downey's performance and the visual effects received some praise. It was also a box office disappointment, grossing $245 million worldwide against a production budget of $175 million, which, when factoring in marketing and distribution costs, led to a significant loss for the studio.

Cast

• Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. John Dolittle, a veterinarian who can talk to animals.
• Antonio Banderas as King Rassouli
• Michael Sheen as Dr. Blair Müdfly
• Jim Broadbent as Lord Thomas Badgley
• Voice cast includes:

   * Emma Thompson as Polynesia, a parrot
   * Rami Malek as Chee-Chee, a gorilla
   * John Cena as Yoshi, a polar bear
   * Kumail Nanjiani as Plimpton, an ostrich
   * Octavia Spencer as Dab-Dab, a duck
   * Tom Holland as Jip, a dog
   * Craig Robinson as Kevin, a squirrel
   * Ralph Fiennes as Barry, a tiger
   * Selena Gomez as Betsy, a giraffe
   * Marion Cotillard as Tutu, a fox

See also

• Doctor Dolittle film series
• The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle
• Hugh Lofting