Good evening, good afternoon, wherever you are a massive hello to you.
Welcome to Funk Film Reviews, where you'll be seeing reviews about films on here, both new and old. There will also be articles about films that are yet to come out, that I will be discussing. I will try and make this as engaging and entertaining for you, given the hard times that the world is currently going through. Allow me to make 10 minutes of your day less drab with the articles that I give to you!
With that in mind, let's get this party started. Are you ready? Righty let’s go.
Dolittle (Gaghan, 2020)
Disclaimer: If you are looking to watch this film in the near future and you do not want to be spoiled, please don't read on.
I'm going to be honest with you, I wasn't exactly sure what to make of this film. Why? I really enjoyed the original films quite a lot. The idea of man and animals talking with each other? The first and second film adaptations made me believe I could talk to animals (had I done this in front of an audience, might have had people praying for me who knows).
For that concept to be executed so well into live action cinema, I believed it was ground-breaking. First in 1967 when Rex Harrison was playing the eccentric doctor and secondly in 1998, when Eddie Murphy took his own spin on the guy (probably the doctor we are more familiar with).
Now fast-forward 20 years or more later, we have the ever-charming soul himself, Robert Downey Jr giving his own portrayal of Doctor John Dolittle. The eccentric doctor was living in self-imposed exile away from the world and completely done with his profession following the loss of his wife.
The first impression we get from the Doctor is that he's not looking after himself, got a scruffy beard, frizzy hair, he’s not clean, just playing games with his gorilla. Nothing like a typical Thursday, right? This is basically trying to give the audience the whole crazy genius/mad scientist vibe, a trope that has been used probably too many times now.
We see that the doctor is sprung back into action, when the Queen of England falls ill and Dolittle is to set sail to a mysterious island in search of the perfect antidote. He is accompanied by his animals and also a young apprentice, Tommy Stubbins (played by Harry Collett, you might have seen him in Dunkirk). Like any voyage, literally or metaphorically, Dolittle and co face obstacles, different enemies including a bitter tiger who had it in for Dolittle for not treating him properly many years earlier. Just imagine there is a tiger who wanted to have beef with you... He probably would make beef out of you to be quite honest.
Dolittle also runs into another old foe, who turns out to be father of Dolittle's late wife. There were many other foes, including a doctor who tried to outdo Dolittle and failed. Failed hard. The antidote was found, the Queen was back to her Royal self (woo!)
I loved Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man; he portrayed the role perfectly. I loved the character so much that I cried when he died in Endgame. Twice (and no I'm not ashamed). However, I don't think this role was for him and I don't think it's his fault that the film bombed the way that it did. If you have children, I believe that they will enjoy this film with all the slapstick comedy and the talking animals.
Beyond that though, if you're looking for something that is going to explore the relationships between man and animal in great detail, then prepare yourself for severe disappointment. I still believe that the Dr Dolittle trilogy starring Eddie Murphy is superior.
For all my Welsh people Downey Jr's attempt at a Welsh accent is quite cute and that's putting it mildly.
It wasn't all doom and gloom, there were some laugh out loud moments. I would give the film a 5.5/10. Whilst I enjoyed the film in parts I really think the storyline could have been better written.
Don’t worry I will always cherish your contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Mr Downey Jr.
Excelsior.
Love this mate! Great read, thanks for making it!
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