I was squeezed between a large, shifty parent and a small toddler for Sony Theatre's showing of "Dr. Dolittle" this weekend. It was no surprise, as the audience was full of children under the age of 12 and their elder companions. What was surprising was that this crowd of youngsters was in attendance for a film whose star is none other than Eddie Murphy.
Murphy has apparently made a bit of a career shift since even his tamer days on Saturday Night Live. With "Dr. Dolittle," he seems to move further into the realm of the family film, a genre for which he attempted to open the door with "The Nutty Professor," a remake of a Jerry Lewis film that, with its somewhat crude language and jokes, fell short of having the universal appeal of its predecessor but became a video rental hit among teenagers.
Fans of Murphy's once in-your-face style will wonder what became of it as the comedian plays a mild-mannered doctor who has the unbelievable, and occasionally troublesome, ability to speak to animals. However, those looking for a nice family film will also be left somewhat disheartened, as the film does little to tone down language and adult humor.
Like "The Nutty Professor" before it, "Dr. Dolittle" is a remake of an earlier, family-oriented film, 1967's "Dr. Dolittle," which garnered a rating of G unlike the 1998 version's rating of PG-13. The Motion Picture Association of America justifies this rating with its recognition of the film's "crude humor and language." When one squirrel threatens another by stating that he will soon "find his nuts up in a tree," it becomes apparent that not all of "Dr. Dolittle" is intended for children.
This is not to say that "Dr. Dolittle" is not entertaining. On the contrary, the adult language and humor make it an enjoyable film for those who can see it under their own guidance. The sitcom-like scenarios and dialogue are funny, and the animated antics of the animals voiced by comedians such as Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock, Norm MacDonald and even a quick voice-over by Paul Reubens (of Pee-Wee Herman and adult movie-house fame) can successfully keep adults chuckling throughout.
However, this humor comes within the context of a scenario aimed at children. The young John Dolittle hides his remarkable ability in the face of oppressive non-believers (read: his parents), and it takes some 30 years and hundreds of cute and furry talking animals to teach him that valuable lesson that people must be true to what they are.
The ending quickly slides into fairy-tale happiness, as loose ends are tied up with simple sentences and declarations of love. "Dr. Dolittle" is thus left to drift in the strange middle-ground between a family film and an Eddie Murphy film.
If you have a child you can drag with you (one who knows all those four-letter words already and cannot be corrupted) "Dr. Dolittle" is worth the view, and far more entertaining than renting another "Barney" video. It will prove to be a very good time for those who have to go see it because the six year-old they baby-sit for is whining about wanting to see that movie with the talking animals.
Without the child, however, it may be easier to commit to a film with adult humor and situations that is actually aimed at adults. It certainly would be easier to explain to anyone who happens to see you at the theatre.
