Dolittle (2020)

January 2, 2020 (CN) • Family, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure • 101m

Overview

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.

Director

Stephen Gaghan

Writers

Stephen Gaghan, Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Thomas Shepherd

Top Billed

Robert Downey Jr.

Keywords

ship island based on novel or book victorian england doctor based on children's book animals veterinary talking to animals voyage

Where to watch

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Robert Downey Jr.

Dr. John Dolittle

Harry Collett

Tommy Stubbins

Michael Sheen

Dr. Blair Müdfly

Jim Broadbent

Lord Thomas Badgley

Antonio Banderas

King Rassouli

Rami Malek

Chee-Chee (voice)

Jessie Buckley

Queen Victoria

Emma Thompson

Poly (voice)

John Cena

Yoshi (voice)

Kumail Nanjiani

Plimpton (voice)

Craig Robinson

Kevin (voice)

Ralph Fiennes

Barry (voice)

Tom Holland

Jip (voice)

Octavia Spencer

Dab-Dab (voice)

Selena Gomez

Betsy (voice)

Marion Cotillard

Tutu (voice)

Kasia Smutniak

Lily Dolittle

Carmel Laniado

Lady Rose

Frances de la Tour

Dragon (voice)

Jason Mantzoukas

James the Dragonfly (voice)

Ralph Ineson

Arnall Stubbins

Joanna Page

Bethan Stubbins

Sonny Ashbourne Serkis

Arnall Stubbins Jr.

Oliver Chris

Sir Gareth

Clive Francis

Archbishop

Paul Holowaty

Navy Man

Elliot Barnes-Worrell

Captain William Derrick

Mark Umbers

Lieutenant

David Sheinkopf

Don Carpenterino

Sid Sagar

Jeff the Prisoner

Martin Pemberton

Postman

Tim Treloar

Humphrey the Whale (voice)

Jim Carretta

Beard Mouse and Leona (voice)

Nick Fisher

Mini the Sugar Glider (voice)

Matt King

Clyde

Ranjani Brow

Mouse (voice)

Kelly Stables

Mouse (voice)

Scott Menville

Army Ant (voice)

Gia Davis

Baby Animal (voice)

Henry Holcomb

Baby Animal (voice)

Kyrie McAlpin

Baby Animal (voice)

Isley Zamora

Baby Animal (voice)

Stewart Scudamore

Pirate

Samson Kayo

Pirate

John-Luke Roberts

Pirate / Animal Performer

Joseph Balderrama

Prisoner

Daniel Hoffmann-Gill

Prisoner

Jane Leaney

Animal Performer

Josh Jefferies

On Set Chee-Chee / Animal Performer

Shaun McKee

On Set Yoshi / Animal Performer

Richard Soames

Animal Performer

Will Arnett

Rabbit (voice) (uncredited)

Crew

Ramon Álvarez

Stunts

Natalie Wood

Stunts

Donna Williams

Stunts

Martin Wilde

Stunts

Billie Jo White

Stunts

Richard Wheeldon

Stunts

Haydn Webb

Stunts

Andy Wareham

Stunts

Chris Waite

Stunts

Mark Aaron Wagner

Stunts

Ivo Vonbank

Stunts

Christian Arranz Villareal

Stunts

Pablo Verdejo

Stunts

Edward Upcott

Stunt Double

Edward Upcott

Stunts

Evie Twyford

Stunts

Anoushka Turner

Stunts

Arran Topham

Stunts

Mens-Sana Tamakloe

Stunts

John Street

Stunts

Matthew Stirling

Stunts

Anna Stephenson

Stunts

Sam Stefan

Stunts

Ian Songhurst

Stunts

Graeme Smiles

Stunts

Anton Simpson-Tidy

Stunts

Matt Sherren

Stunts

Stephen W. Schriver

Stunt Double

Hasit Savani

Stunts

Allyson Ryan

Stunts

Douglas Robson

Stunts

Zach Roberts

Stunts

Eden Reyes

Stunts

Mark Rayner

Stunts

Tilly Powell

Stunts

Chris Pollard

Stunts

Oleg Podobin

Stunts

Martin Pemberton

Stunts

Rob Pavey

Stunt Double

Rob Pavey

Stunts

James Pavey

Stunts

Pete Olivant

Stunts

Benos Noble

Stunts

Brian Nickels

Stunts

Elliot Murray

Stunts

Steven Mullins

Stunts

Erol Mehmet

Stunts

Sonny Louis

Stunts

Sarah Lochlan

Stunts

Richard Leggett

Stunts

André Layne

Stunts

Monty Lathrope

Stunts

Bogdan Kumšackij

Stunts

George Kirby

Stunts

Joe Kennard

Stunts

Steve Jehu

Stunts

Rob Hunt

Stunts

Michael Holly

Stunts

Lyndon S. Hellewell

Stunts

George Hayes

Stunts

Elliot Hawkes

Stunts

Tom Hatt

Stunts

Richard Hansen

Stunts

Richard Hall

Stunts

Franki Hackett

Stunts

Nic Goodey

Stunts

Angel Luis Gomea

Stunts

Paul Ginns

Stunts

David Garrick

Stunts

Glenn Foster

Stunts

Mark Epstein

Stunts

Andrew Eadie

Stunts

Harley Durst

Stunts

Levan Doran

Stunts

Will Dent

Stunts

Will Dent

Utility Stunts

Steve Dent

Stunts

Sam Dent

Stunts

Maria Dent

Stunts

Kelly Dent

Stunts

John Dent

Stunts

Charlotte Dent

Stunts

Bobby Dent

Stunts

Shay Dempsey

Stunts

Andrius Davidenas

Stunts

Simon Crane

Stunt Coordinator

Rob Cooper

Stunts

Joel Conlan

Stunts

Adam Collins

Stunts

Carlos Castillo

Stunts

Marvin Campbell

Stunts

Dacio Caballero

Stunts

Katy Bullock

Stunts

Grace Bruce

Stunt Double

Grace Bruce

Stunts

Fred Brown

Stunts

Scott Brady

Stunt Double

Alexander Bracq

Stunts

Rachelle Biernat

Stunts

Rachelle Beinart

Stunt Double

Lloyd Bass

Stunts

Callum Barnes

Stunts

Russell Balogh

Stunt Double

Russell Balogh

Stunts

Daniel Awde

Stunts

Benjamin Ashley

Stunts

Gary Arthurs

Stunts

Luis Miguel Arranz

Stunts

Luis Arranz Villareal

Stunts

Luis Miguel Arranz Losa

Stunts

Eugenio Alonso Yenes

Stunts

Matt Crook

Stunts

Nina Jalava

Stand In

Alexander T.H. Browne

VFX Artist

Prakash Goyal

VFX Artist

Tracy McGregor

Assistant Costume Designer

India Witzand

Assistant Costume Designer

David Otzen

Costumer

Marco Scotti

Costume Supervisor

Sheara Abrahams

Costume Set Supervisor

Oliver Southall

Costumer

Emily Thomson

Costumer

Marco De Luca

Costumer

Janine Cunliffe

Costumer

Celia Yau

Costumer

Adam Redmore

Costumer

Cédric Andries

Costume Coordinator

Daniel Phillips

Makeup Designer

Daniel Phillips

Hair Designer

Pippa Woods

Makeup Supervisor

Pippa Woods

Hair Supervisor

Paula Price

Makeup Artist

Loulia Sheppard

Makeup & Hair

Rachel Korn

Associate Producer

Michael Mann

Production Coordinator

Edward Squires

Assistant Production Coordinator

Kerryn Clements

Assistant Production Coordinator

Laurence Cooper

Production Secretary

Bill Darby

Location Manager

Tom Crooke

Location Manager

Ruby Whitelocke

Assistant Location Manager

Harry Le Page

Assistant Location Manager

Dan Peacock

Assistant Location Manager

Sam Turner

Assistant Location Manager

Harriet Wharton

Location Coordinator

Ed Burrell

Location Assistant

Chris Cranstoun

Location Assistant

Claire Robertson

Production Accountant

Giles Barnett

First Assistant Accountant

Karen Bicknell

Payroll Accountant

Neil Pierson

Payroll Accountant

Charles Larcombe

Assistant Accountant

Laura Anderson

Assistant Accountant

Claire Treacy

Assistant Accountant

Olivia Grant

Casting Assistant

Brian Neighbour

Construction Manager

Usha Chaman

Construction Coordinator

Stacy Mann

Unit Publicist

Lisa Rodgers

Post Production Supervisor

Jim Carretta

Additional Editor

Jon Taylor

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Frank A. Montaño

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Julian Andraus

First Assistant Editor

Brandon Cano-Errecart

Assistant Editor

Daniel Laurie

Supervising Sound Editor

J.R. Grubbs

Supervising Sound Editor

Al Nelson

Sound Designer

Benjamin A. Burtt

Sound Effects Editor

Qianbaihui Yang

Sound Effects Editor

Jack Whittaker

Sound Effects Editor

Jacob Riehle

Dialogue Editor

Brad Semenoff

Dialogue Editor

Luke Dunn Gielmuda

Foley Supervisor

Andre Fenley

Foley Editor

Alyssa Nevarez

Assistant Sound Editor

Jana Vance

Foley Artist

Ronni Brown

Foley Artist

Jeff Gomillion

ADR Mixer

Nick Roberts

ADR Mixer

Matt Haggerty

Second Assistant Director

John Flemming

Key Grip

Jack Flemming

Dolly Grip

Steve Kitchen

Rigging Gaffer

David Lee

Gaffer

Dani Rose

Drone Pilot

Pat Sweeney

Gaffer

Bill Abbott

Music Editor

Pete Anthony

Orchestrator

Steve Bartek

Orchestrator

Oliver Hug

Music Editor

Stephanie Lowry

Music Editor

Edgardo Simone

Orchestrator

Graham Sutton

Music Editor

Edward Trybek

Orchestrator

Jo Beckett

Script Supervisor

James Madejski

Script Coordinator

Sarah Bradshaw

Unit Production Manager

William M. Connor

Co-Producer

Peter James

Standby Art Director

Andrew Proctor

Assistant Art Director

Matt Robinson

Assistant Art Director

Aisha Saeed

Art Department Coordinator

Lee Sandales

Set Decoration

Gary Spratling

"A" Camera Operator

Dave Hamilton-Green

"B" Camera Operator

Malcolm McLean

"C" Camera Operator

Julian Bucknall

First Assistant "A" Camera

David Pearce

Second Assistant "A" Camera

Robert Palmer

First Assistant "B" Camera

Alex Bender

Second Assistant "B" Camera

James Leckey

First Assistant "C" Camera

Morgan Spencer

Second Assistant "C" Camera

Alex Collings

Camera Loader

Giles Taylor

Camera Trainee

Francesco Giardiello

Digital Imaging Technician

David Cheesman

Property Master

Laura Dishington

Graphic Designer

Natasha Jones

Graphic Designer

Chris Munro

Production Sound Mixer

Martin Conway

Best Boy Electric

Derek Russell

Best Boy Grip

Brett Flemming

Dolly Grip

Dave Armstrong

Dolly Grip

Stephen Gaghan

Director

Joe Roth

Producer

Jeff Kirschenbaum

Producer

Susan Downey

Producer

Hugh Lofting

Character Designer

Alex Bowens

Assistant Art Director

Danny Elfman

Original Music Composer

Sarah Bradshaw

Associate Producer

Jon Mone

Executive Producer

Craig Alpert

Editor

Lucy Bevan

Casting

Dominic Watkins

Production Design

Matthew Gray

Supervising Art Director

Oliver Roberts

Art Direction

Gary Tomkins

Art Direction

Jenny Beavan

Costume Design

Zoe Tahir

Hairstylist

Frank Cuomo

Production Manager

William M. Connor

First Assistant Director

Tom Rye

Second Assistant Director

Teresa Orlando

Third Assistant Director

Tim Browning

Conceptual Design

Alison Clements

Draughtsman

James Bomalick

Stunts

Julian Bucknall

First Assistant Camera

Alex Bender

Second Unit Director of Photography

Ross Grimshaw

Lighting Technician

Jay Maidment

Still Photographer

Emily Brockmann

Casting Associate

Duncan Broadfoot

Location Manager

Dew John

Transportation Captain

Jimmy Rich

Assistant Set Dresser

Guillermo Navarro

Director of Photography

Will Coubrough

Art Direction

Peter Dorme

Art Direction

Tom Weaving

Art Direction

Tom Whitehead

Art Direction

Joseph Koniak

Hair Setup

Sebastian Lochmann

Concept Artist

Chris Lyons

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Frank Cuomo

Post Production Supervisor

Simone Goodridge

Unit Production Manager

Mark Layton

Production Supervisor

Richard Ruck

Unit Manager

Joey Coughlin

Second Assistant Director

Simon Crane

Second Unit Director

Mark Johnstone

Third Assistant Director

Sandrine Loisy

Crowd Assistant Director

Marlon Beyer Rieger

Third Assistant Director

Chris Lebenzon

Editor

Nick Moore

Additional Editing

Fraser Taggart

Second Unit Director of Photography

Stephen Gaghan

Screenplay

Hugh Lofting

Characters

David Allcock

Storyboard Artist

Dan Gregor

Screenplay

Doug Mand

Screenplay

Steve Ellingworth

Key Grip

Peter Hayley-Barker

Grip

Andrea Cracknell

Hairstylist

Andrea Cracknell

Makeup Artist

Rebecca White

Draughtsman

Sarah Young

Assistant Costume Designer

Chris Castaldi

First Assistant Director

Dominic Tuohy

Special Effects Supervisor

Thomas Shepherd

Story

John Dykstra

Visual Effects Supervisor

Nicolas Aithadi

Visual Effects Supervisor

Robert Allman

Visual Effects Supervisor

Peter Field

Camera Operator

Lulu Dillon

Actor's Assistant

Darren Tubby

Draughtsman

Nicholas White

Set Production Assistant

Dave Shirk

Animation Supervisor

Fraser Fennell-Ball

Second Assistant Director

Allison Paul

Visual Effects Producer

Laura Krause

3D Modeller

John Mathieson

Additional Director of Photography

Pier Lefebvre

Digital Effects Supervisor

Christophe St-Pierre Paradis

Animation Supervisor

Heiko von Drengenberg

Storyboard Artist

Claudia Lechen

Compositing Artist

Fernando Herrera

Lead Animator

Terence Madden

Other

Reviews

Manuel São Bento

⭐ 2/10

April 9, 2020

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We have all watched the Dolittle movies starring Eddie Murphy. I'm not going to lie, I was never a fan of these films. Yes, they're purposefully dumb, innocent, and feature that basic level of comedy. They never annoyed me, but they also never did anything remarkably surprising. 2020's version of the known tale is the first post-MCU role of Robert Downey Jr., it boasts an A-list cast, and… it's one of the worst movies of the year, without a single doubt. A complete disaster in every area of filmmaking.

I don't even know where to start. Maybe with RDJ since he's the most significant negative surprise. I can't believe such a charismatic and now iconic actor like him could deliver a performance this awful. His Welsh (?) accent is not only a terrible choice character-wise, but I doubt that any children can understand what he's saying. RDJ acts like a baffling caricature of himself, not helping an already flawed film. The voice work from the remaining cast might be the only positive of the whole movie, but the CGI animals are way too unconvincing.

However, as always, the most impactful issues belong to the actual story. Instead of being an entertaining and fun adventure, it's an incredibly boring, nonsensical, structure-less journey into one of the most ridiculous third acts of cinema. Even placing myself in a child's mind, I don't think I would be able to enjoy this mess of a screenplay. Like I wrote above, not even the animals look great…

Certain characters possess these unknown relationships that the audience is supposed to care about, but no background is given to any of them. Tons of plot points lack a logical explanation. The entire narrative is void of any creativity or uniqueness whatsoever, looking simply like a lazy, unimaginative piece of work. The "young queen who falls gravely ill" is just a woman sleeping in bed, not looking ill at all, which proves that not even the makeup department was interested in making an effort.

But all of the issues above are nothing compared to the film's climax. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just write that I still can't believe what I witnessed. Around ninety minutes of build-up lead to the most shocking, hilarious, utterly absurd moment. The humor is a level below childish. Dozens of fart jokes (including one during the climax), over-the-top reactions, and I don't even know what else. Between Bloodshot, Fantasy Island, and The Grudge… Let the devil come and choose!

All in all, Dolittle is a massive fail at all levels. It was meant to be one of the worst movies of the year, and it undoubtedly accomplished this goal. From the surprisingly awful performance from Robert Downey Jr. to one of the most shockingly terrible climaxes in the history of cinema, Stephen Gaghan delivers a structure-less screenplay, filled with nonsensical narrative decisions, and featuring an extremely dull adventure. The CGI animals are far from being remotely impressive, the characters lack personality (bringing an A-list actor doesn't guarantee anything), and the comedy is so astonishingly basic that I doubt kids will laugh at some of the jokes, and they laugh at everything. With a budget of 175M (!!!), it's not understandable how and why a studio would waste this much money on such an obvious flop. The voice work from the cast is good… and it genuinely could have been worse. This is the closest I can get to a positive.

Rating: D-

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Kamurai

⭐ 5/10

December 10, 2020

A weird watch, probably won't watch again, and can't recommend.

I'm not sure if this is supposed to be closer to the books, or if Disney was just fed up with having wonderful magic in their products, but having Dolittle act out animal behavior in order to communicate to the them really ruins the vibe, as well as making it something you can learn makes it incredibly unremarkable. It should just be something people teach in this movie's univers… read the rest.

r96sk

⭐ 4/10

December 27, 2020

So pointless, so bad.

The one solace of praise I have for <em>'Dolittle'</em> is that it at least mixes things up compared to the Eddie Murphy remake, as well as potentially the 1967 original - though I haven't seen that, but this sounds a little different based on '67's synopsis.

This film wastes a fantastic cast list. Robert Downey Jr. is of course the lead, but there are also notable appearances from the likes of Antonio Banderas, Michae… read the rest.