Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Page 195

Dr. Dolittle 2
Movie
Dr. Dolittle 2
Director
Steve Carr
Producer
John Davis
Cast
Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wilson, Raven Symone



By Ad-Lib

The man with the widest smile and the "in-yo-face" black humour is back and this time in a sequel to Dr. Dolittle. Eddie Murphy is at his best and so is the entire cast of critters that make this the cutest and yet the most hilarious movie I have seen yet since Dr. Dolittle.

Dr. John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) has become a noted and successful vet and has proved to the world that he can indeed talk to animals. Lucky the Dog is his faithful and smart alec companion. Dr. Dolittle lives with his beautiful wife Lisa (Kristen Wilson) and their daughters Maya (Kyla Pratt) and Charisse (Raven-Symone). A possum makes an appearance while he is trying to settle an issue with teenage Charisse and says that the Beaver wants to see him. A little later a Raccoon who sounds like an Italian out of the New York also delivers the same message. So Dr. Dolittle goes along the next morning he goes into the nearby woods to meet "The Beaver." Lo and Behold, a beaver it is along with troupe of rodents, birds and other animals of the forest. "The Beaver" is the local mafia boss of the forest and asks Dr. Dolittle`s help with a lumber company that is hell bent on destroying the woodland. So Dr. Dolittle obliges hesitantly and finds out that the best way to save the forest would be to find an endangered species that lives there which would mean that the forest would then be a reserve. He finds a Western Pacific Bear called Archie who has his own stage show and persuades him to leave the city, come to the woods, find love and save the species. Dr. Dolittle introduces Archie to Ava-the only female of the species. Archie is clumsy and Ava takes no notice of him. But Dr. Dolittle perseveres and teaches Archie about being a bear. In the meantime the lumber company is hoping for the failure of the Bear and the Doctor. On seeing the success of Archie, the company with its able lawyer Jack Riley (Kevin Pollak) and owner Joseph Potter (Jeffery Jones) tranquilise Archie and frame him for breaking into a nearby restaurant. Dr. Dolittle, his family (including Charisse`s "homeboy" boyfriend) revolt and animals all over the world strike in protest until a forest reserve is created and Archie is released.

Dr. Dolittle 2 is simply superb. And that`s the only word I can think of. It will crack you up at every second scene. The animals and their antics make the movie extremely cute and Eddie Murphy looks like the leader of a comedy orchestra. Though the film proceeds on extremely unlikely scenarios, the script is overall pretty strong. The sequel is just as funny as the first and it is fun entertainment for the family and all ages. On my chart, Dr. Dolittle 2 earns a good 8 out 10.

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