Well, considering how many movies I see, somehow I never saw the first "Dr. Dolittle", but I figured the concept was a simple one. Eddie Murphy is able to talk with the animals. As the movie started, I realized that I didn't know how he came across this power, and the sequel gave me no answer either. Later in the film, his child just seems to get the gift, so maybe that is how he did?

This movie is completely predictable after about the ten minute mark. Actually, what surprised me the most was how blatantly it was made for pre-teens. This is truly a 'kid movie', although the advertisements didn't give me this same impression. Unfortunately, like most recent films about, and for, teenagers, we also get gross-out jokes. We get jokes about farts, peeing, mating, dogs licking themselves, and even a butt plug. These weren't quite as crude as "Joe Dirt", or I'm sure "American Pie 2" will be, but are obviously aimed at the lowest common denominator.

I think I'm getting a little spoiled after seeing the recent excellent kid's movies like "Spy Kids" and "Shrek", where most of the jokes were probably aimed at kids, but there are plenty of references aimed at the more mature viewers as well. I don't think "Dolittle 2" had any jokes that would appeal to someone older than 12. The only possible one would be a scene with a 12-step program for ownerless dogs. Maybe I'm just being greedy. Kid's movies don't have to appeal to older people, but I think the marketing should have made this more obvious to me.

Unfortunately, I must report that I fear it wasn't even that funny to little kids. There wasn't much laughter from the younger audience members around me, except for the obvious stuff like farts and falling down. Nothing makes an eight year old laugh quite as much as a bear farting, I guess.

The movie starts with Eddie Murphy living off of the fame he somehow got during the first film. He is a doctor for humans, and a veterinarian as well. We see him talking to the animals as well as some unfunny bits with his family at home, who feels he doesn't have enough time for them. These bits were unfunny enough that I hoped he soon ended up in the woods that I saw in the previews. About an hour into the forest scenes, I was hoping he would make it back to civilization.

The story involves a large growth of forest that has been approved by the government to be cut down by a lumber company. The animals appeal to Dr. Dolittle for help, since he can communicate with the humans. He learns that one way to save it is if the area can be considered a haven for an endangered species. It turns out that there is one endangered species living in the woods, the rare pacific northwestern bear. However, there is only one female left, and since she has no chance of reproducing by herself, the courts say it is okay to tear down the forest. Huh? I would think it would make it even rarer to have just one creature left. At the very least, wouldn't this bear be captured and kept somewhere safe? I think someone would do something to protect her if they knew she was out there. I think they would already be protecting the land if they knew there was a Kodiak bear miraculously living there too.

The environmentalists already tried to stop the logging, but the courts decided that since the bear is single, and has no chance of reproducing, what is the point of trying to protect the environment. Huh? I'm sure the Sierra Club is shaking their heads in disgust at that line of reasoning. I know I was, and I'm not an environmentalist. The message of saving the environment is probably an important one, but I don't think they treated the subject matter very seriously.

The movie definitely had a great collection of voice actors. Especially the lead bear, played by Steve Zahn. I've been a fan of his since I first noticed him in "Out of Sight". He wouldn't have seemed like a good choice to play an urban bear, but it worked for me. Norm McDonald played the dog, and was actually probably the best animal actor in the film. His dog character showed a varied range throughout the movie. Lisa Kudrow played a female bear, and actually wasn't too good. I like her work, but her voice acting in this (and also in a Simpson's episode) is sub par. Michael Rapaport's Raccoon was funny, and not seen enough. Andy Dick had the briefest of roles as a weasel. And as distinctive a voice as Joey Lauren Adams has, I can't believe I didn't recognize her as a squirrel, until I saw her name in the credits.

Eddie Murphy is one of the few actors who gets to play a human throughout the movie. I've always thought that he was one of the funniest comedians we have. Back in the eighties he was bigger than any star is today. I'm not sure what happened to his popularity, but he keeps doing incredible oscar-worthy work, that never seems to get recognized. This isn't some of his best work, however. He shined in a few brief moments, but none of his greatness was really there. In all fairness, I'm sure it isn't too easy to act to imaginary animals either.

This could have been a very funny and clever movie. Unfortunately, it is far too predictable, and all the way through. I really liked the character of Archie, the bear, but that was about it. This bear was raised in the circus, and has absolutely no desire to live out in the woods. When Eddie is trying to teach him how to catch fish, the bear would rather have it bought at the "Red Lobster". He doesn't like the fact that it is dirty everywhere, and he can't get past the idea of having to hibernate through a cold winter.

I was also unimpressed with his desire to get the bee hive at the end. The bear, in order to impress the female bear, decides to climb out on a tree trunk hanging out over a cliff that has a very large bee hive hanging off of it. Part of me was thinking for a man who talks and loves all animals, that is a pretty mean thing to do to the bees. Would I be that impressed with a Bear who climbs out on a ledge that has killed many other bears we are told. I would think of him as a little stupid, not as a potential mate. As a matter of fact, I don't think the bear ever really did anything that would win over the love, or biological desire, of the female of the species.

So many things in this film just didn't work that I simply cannot recommend it. I suppose it could be entertaining for the younger kids, but I'm certain there is better out there.



Recommended:
No

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8