Dolittle
2020 · Directed by Stephen Gaghan
Original language: English
- family
- comedy
- fantasy
- adventure
The story
After losing 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. But 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.
What it’s like
Bright, storybook CGI with saturated greens and warm candlelit interiors, the Victorian manor rendered in dusty ochres and wood tones while the ship and island sequences spill into sunlit teal seas and lush, overgrown jungle. The camera moves freely and often, sweeping over animals and landscapes in busy, playful compositions that favour the creatures over quiet stillness. Sound leans on bouncy orchestral swells, whimsical pizzicato and comic sound effects, with the animals' chatter filling most scenes. The vibe is cheerful, goofy and warm, a family-matinee sort of fun for a lazy afternoon or a relaxed weekend with children. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with frequent gags and set-pieces, and the emotional arc follows a grieving, reclusive man slowly rediscovering his humour and his willingness to connect. Peril is mild and cartoonish: sea storms, creature skirmishes and a few scuffles, with no gore and little real threat, and romance and sexual content are absent. It suits viewers who want an undemanding, big-hearted adventure that plays gently for all ages.
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