Movie Review: Dolittle

Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Dolittle in Dolittle movie 2020

Released: January 1st, 2020 (US)/January 15th, 2020 (Indonesia)

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Family

Remember Doctor Dolittle? A doctor who can talk with animals, Hugh Lofting’s character, that has been adapted many times over the last century now re-adapted by Oscar-winning director, Stephen Gaghan. The movie storyline which based on Lofting’s second book The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (released on 1922) is titled ‘Dolittle’. This movie stars Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. John Dolittle. Did Iron Man succeed in playing the role of Doctor Dolittle?

Before the adaptation was released in mid-January 2020, Lofting began the character’s journey for the first time in a book called The Story of Doctor Dolittle, a century ago in 1920. And in 1998, it could be said to be Doctor Dolittle’s heyday starring Eddie Murphy. Doctor Dolittle is a family favorite film.

Synopsis

Dolittle movie tells after losing his wife, Lily (Kasia Smutniak) 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 (Jessie Buckley) 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.

During the adventure to find the cure, Dolittle is accompanied by a boy, Stubbin (Harry Collet) and a group of animals such as a cowardly gorilla named Chee Chee (Rami Malek), a cyncal ostrich named Plimton (Kumail Nanjiani) and an optimistic polar bear named Yoshi (John Cena), an eager duck who thought he is a bird named Dap Dap (Octavia Spencer), and also a stubborn parrot named Poly (Emma Thompson) who is Dolittle’s loyal advisor.

The Fantasy Adventure Is Started

Epic scenes that spoil the eyes are served by this movie. The movie that cost $175.000.000,00 can invite the audience into Dolittle’s adventure with its cool cinematography compared to previous adaptations. The visualization of talking animals is also amazing and seems very real. Welcome to the fantasy world!

The green field full of beautiful creatures behind Dolittle Manor wall and the old ships in the blue of ocean are clearly and visibly stunning creates the perfect mood. The energetic music and sound effects give a bold impression on adventure, and sometimes provide an extra feeling of tension.

Every scene in Dolittle flows smoothly with the match cuts in line with the plot of the story. This great editing gives the best point for this movie. Thumbs up!

A Superheroe Is Back

The performance of RDJ (Robert Downey Jr.) is good. Although he retired as an “Iron Man”, he is still able to play as a superhero in Dolittle movie to save the queen’s life. But it seems that Doctor Dolittle's unique and eccentric character is not yet fully attached to the RDJ. The character of Iron Man is still strongly attached in him.

So, when we watch this movie, we are like watching Iron Man in the middle ages without robot costume, especially in the scene diving in the sea. Instead, the character of Dolittle's animals is better able to attract the attention of the audience. The director should choose an actor/actress who doesn't or doesn't have a special character attached to him/her before.

However, Dolittle is a movie full of wonderful characters. From those characters we can get a lot of valuable messages such as fight the fear like Chee-Chee, a cowardly gorilla, did or firm in making decisions like stubborn parrot, Poly. Or Yoshi and Plimpton are finally friends, everyone need each other. And the most important is “…teamwork makes the dream works.” and “…bound together.”

Well-done Adaptation

This fantasy adventure comedy genre film has been well adapted with the better visualization. The screenwriter and director managed to create a different atmosphere but arranged neatly.

Although the movie has comedy genre, but only part of the dialogue that presents funny, the rest is meaningful. A very strong British accent can make this movie sound more exotic to enjoy.

Dolittle, that has been ranked top in the box office, is highly recommended to be enjoyed with family on weekends with a rating of 9/10. Although the character of doctor Dolittle becomes a point of weakness, but this doesn’t affect the storyline. Even the other characters that are more explored, plus visual effect that spoil the eyes, you will get a lot of lessons when watching this movie. Don’t miss it!

Written by Riristia Hayu