Watch Dr. Dolittle

Dr. Dolittle is a 1998 comedy film directed by Betty Thomas and starring Eddie Murphy in the titular role. Based on the character created by Hugh Lofting in his series of children's books, the film follows the story of a successful and wealthy San Francisco doctor named John Dolittle, who discovers he has the ability to talk to animals.

The film opens with a young John Dolittle living in a poor neighborhood of San Francisco with his parents and younger brother. One day, John comes across a hurt pigeon, which he takes home and nurses back to health. To his surprise, the pigeon thanks him and begins speaking to him in English. From that moment on, John discovers he has the ability to communicate with animals.

Years later, John has grown up to become a successful and respected doctor, but his newfound gift has caused him to become increasingly detached from the animals around him. His wife Lisa (Kristen Wilson) urges him to reconnect with his gift, but John remains skeptical until he is hit by a car and wakes up in the hospital talking to a dog.

As news of John's gift spreads, he becomes inundated with animal patients seeking his help, ranging from a suicidal tiger to a depressed guinea pig. Alongside his trusty dog Lucky, John sets out to help these animals and find his true purpose in life.

However, John's newfound popularity also attracts the attention of Archer Dolittle (Jeffrey Tambor), John's distant cousin and CEO of a pharmaceutical company. Archer sees the potential to use John's gift to advance his own company's interests and tries to persuade him to become their spokesperson. When John refuses, Archer sets out to discredit him and ruin his career.

As the pressure builds, John must rely on his animal friends to help clear his name and stand up to Archer. Along the way, he learns the true meaning of friendship, loyalty, and the importance of following his heart.

Eddie Murphy's performance as Dr. Dolittle is the highlight of the film, as he brings his trademark humor and energy to the role, making it his own. The supporting cast, including Peter Boyle as the wise and sage-like Tiger and Ossie Davis as John's wise-cracking mentor, are also memorable in their roles.

Moreover, the film's message of animal rights and conservation is relevant even today, making it a timeless classic for audiences of all ages. With its fun, lively atmosphere and heartwarming story, Dr. Dolittle is the perfect family movie night choice.

Dr. Dolittle is a 1998 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4 and a MetaScore of 46.