Dolittle Fails to Stay Afloat

Published on January 17, 2020

Awards season may be here, but January is no time for the film industry to hit the pause button. Led by Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr. stars in Dolittle, a fantasy adventure and reboot of the Doctor Dolittle films. Taking inspiration from the book, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting, Stephen Gaghan has directed Dolittle. Gaghan received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Traffic, with another nomination for the film, Syriana. Unfortunately, you’d have no idea after seeing his latest film. 

Watch It: If you enjoyed previous Doctor Dolittle films or cling to animal films in general with a lighthearted tone. 

Skip It: If you hope to join a rousing and moving adventure. 

Review

Dolittle lives up to the lowered expectations many often have toward this time of year. Early on, it’s apparent that the same care that earned Gaghan award recognition were not present in this adventure. Somehow, among three writers, poor dialogue made it to the big screen without any successful jokes. 

The script contains tonal shifts at times that jolt the viewer from touching back story to toilet humor within seconds. As one of the biggest plot points in the film, we learn one similarity a certain creature has with Dolittle. Seconds later, Dolittle is performing a colonoscopy that leads to blustery farts from this creature. It’s all meant to make the little ones laugh. But any laughter for many will only be in dismay and disapproval. 

Perhaps most shocking about Dolittle is the all-star cast that joined the film. Along with Downey, Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, John Cena, Octavia Spencer, Tom Holland, Craig Robinson, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, and Marion Cotillard all play a role in this fantasy adventure! With such a skilled cast, it’s astounding that the producers wasted it with a lousy script and poor direction. 

Some from this cast appear on screen to give poor performances. Given that these actors are well-known, the fault lies with the director who has failed to develop a clear vision for the movie. They have failed to get the entire team on board. This is apparent with Dolittle. Estimates are that the film cost 175 million dollars. Tragically, this flatulent piece of filmmaking may start the decade as one of the first box-office bombs. 

But any viewers of the film must address a deeper concern. The film plays as one that targets a children’s audience before any other. Yet studios like Pixar contain humor and poignancy for both children and adults. In this case, Dolittle has assumed that humor from past decades is still in. Children apparently still only gravitate towards potty sounds and visuals. Children, evidently, are incapable of enjoying more sophisticated humor and touching messages that could influence them at a young age. 

Rating

Dolittle is a cute film when its screenplay delivers bits of heart and not farts. Robert Downey Jr. seems to enjoy playing an eccentric veterinarian who can communicate with animals of all shapes and sizes. Will some parents and their children enjoy this year’s early entry? Most likely. Visually, the film doesn’t necessarily pop and dazzle on screen, but the visuals are also never distracting. Ultimately, however, if you expect to catch something similar to its exciting trailer, think twice before walking on board with Dolittle

Score: 4.4/10 

David Zimmerman is a Contributor at Grit Daily. He is a Portland-based screenwriter, film columnist and the founder of Zimm Score Movie Guide. When he's not writing about the big screen, you can find him nerding out with other cinephiles at local PNW breweries and traveling the world with his wife.

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