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Dolittle

Dolittle

Family · Comedy · Fantasy · 2020

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.

Movie details

Dolittle

“He's just not a people person.”

2020 Family · Comedy · Fantasy 1h 41m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.6 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Dolittle?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Tom and Jerry & The Wizard of Oz

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The Secret Life of Pets 2

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Stephen Gaghan

Written by

Stephen Gaghan · Dan Gregor · Doug Mand · Thomas Shepherd

Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr.

Dr. John Dolittle

Harry Collett

Harry Collett

Tommy Stubbins

Michael Sheen

Michael Sheen

Dr. Blair Müdfly

Jim Broadbent

Jim Broadbent

Lord Thomas Badgley

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas

King Rassouli

Rami Malek

Rami Malek

Chee-Chee (voice)

Jessie Buckley

Jessie Buckley

Queen Victoria

Court is in session

Put Dolittle on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Popcorn Loyalist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.