{"id":5330,"date":"2020-01-17T14:21:54","date_gmt":"2020-01-17T21:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/?p=5330"},"modified":"2020-02-06T11:57:02","modified_gmt":"2020-02-06T18:57:02","slug":"dolittle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/2020\/dolittle\/","title":{"rendered":"Dolittle * Great CGI, Cinematography and Visual Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.poster.jpg?resize=152%2C225&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5331\" width=\"152\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.poster.jpg?resize=203%2C300&amp;ssl=1 203w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.poster.jpg?w=675&amp;ssl=1 675w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 152px) 100vw, 152px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr.\nJohn Dolittle lives in solitude behind the high walls of his lush manor in\n19th-century England.\nHis only companionship comes from an array of exotic animals that he speaks to\non a daily basis. But when young Queen Victoria\nbecomes gravely ill, the eccentric doctor and his furry friends embark on an\nepic adventure to a mythical island to find the cure. Dominic D. comments,\n\u201cWow! The long anticipation of <em>Dolittle<\/em>\nis well worth the wait! A big two thumbs up for director Stephen Gaghan, for\nknocking this action-packed, comical, fun-loving film out of the ball park!\u201d Arjun\nN. adds, \u201c<em>Dolittle<\/em> does little in terms of original storytelling, but\nthis reboot offers colorful ambiance and magical performances. Anyone\ninterested in big budget family entertainers is sure to get their money\u2019s worth\non a matinee.\u201d Katherine S. has another take on it, \u201cWhat a terrific movie!&nbsp;\nThe dialogue among the characters is so much fun and the cinematography,\ncostumes and visual effects are so beautiful and well done.\u201d Jude A. adds, \u201c<em>Dolittle<\/em> is a roaring, barking and chirping fantasy\nadventure story with great humor and special effects\u2026Unfortunately, even though\nthe film is not very long (an hour and 41 minutes), some scenes seem very slow\nand the film feels a lot longer than it actually is. The movie is very comedic\nand has some laugh out loud moments, but sometimes the humor seems a little\nforced and unfunny.\u201d And Sahiba K. wraps it with, \u201cUnfortunately, <em>Dolittle <\/em>left me confused because its\nstoryline is all over the place. There are too many plot elements to follow and\nthey do not tie together cohesively in the end.\u201d Their full reviews are below.\nYou decide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dolittle<br>By Dominic D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 9<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Yye3TBrTOWo\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.1.jpg?resize=225%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5332\" width=\"225\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.1.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. John Dolittle in &#8220;Dolittle,&#8221; directed by Stephen Gaghan.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Wow! The long anticipation of <em>Dolittle<\/em> is well worth the wait! A big two thumbs up for director Stephen Gaghan, for knocking this action-packed, comical, fun-loving film out of the ball park!&nbsp; The film, although perhaps a little lengthier for younger kids, keeps viewers on the edge of their seats while they take in all the adventure, suspense, laughs and emotion that this film offers. I left the theater with an appreciation of the quote, \u201cIt\u2019s truly by helping others that you can help yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The film\nfollows the life of quirky veterinarian Dr. John Dolittle, of Victorian\nEngland, who has a sure connection with animals. Dr. Dolittle becomes\nreclusive, hiding behind the walls of Dolittle Mansion\nfollowing the death of his beloved wife Lily. His only companions since her\ndeath are his furred and feathered friends that the animation department has\nexcelled in giving anthropomorphic qualities to.&nbsp; Dolittle is quite content with his lifestyle,\nvoid of humans, until he has to make a decision when the very ill Queen of\nEngland calls on him to help save her from sickness. Dr. Dolittle appears to be\nthe only person able to bring the Queen the secret antidote to reverse the\nsymptoms of her sudden illness. The doctor, along with his humorous animal crew\nand new young, self-appointed assistant, set sail in search of the cure which\nwill save the Queen from dying. They encounter several obstacles while on their\njourney, which adds to the suspense, adventure and comedy of the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.7.jpg?resize=225%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5338\" width=\"225\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.7.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.7.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.7.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>(from left) Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.) and Queen Victoria (Jessie Buckley) in &#8220;Dolittle,&#8221; directed by Stephen Gaghan.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The star of\nfilm, Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Dolittle plays his role well. He also is one of\nthe film\u2019s executive producers. Hats off to the very lengthy list of animators\nwho bring Dolittle\u2019s friends to life and make us laugh at each of their\npersonalities. The animatronics are by far my favorite part of this movie. It\nwas also super fun to try to identify the many voices behind Dr. Dolittle\u2019s\nmenagerie. I especially love the voice of Craig Robinson who plays Kevin, the\nsquirrel with an attitude. The locations also deserve mentioning. Landscapes\nare lush, bright and so captivating, which adds such so much to this film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The message\nin <em>Dolittle <\/em>is all about\nrelationships. You have to have a sense of imagination to appreciate the\nconnection between Dr. Dolittle and his animal friends, but the message is\nclear that no matter how diversified living things are, we can find a way to\nconnect, communicate and appreciate one another.The film writers gathered together a variety of different\ncharacters that show that no matter what their limitations, they can interact\nwith each other and build heartwarming friendships. This film allows us to open\nup our minds about differences and promotes positive interactions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I give <em>Dolittle <\/em>5 out of 5 stars and, if I\ncould rate it higher, I would! I recommend it to ages 5 to 18. <em>Dolittle<\/em> is the perfect family film and\nadults will love it as much as kids. <em>Dolittle<\/em>\nopens January 17, 2020 in theaters. This is a film that you do not want to\nmiss\u2026mark your calendars!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dolittle<br>By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XCoxmKiJ8SQ\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.9.jpg?resize=225%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5340\" width=\"225\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.9.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.9.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.9.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>(from left) Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett) and Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.) in &#8220;Dolittle.&#8221; <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>What a terrific movie!&nbsp; The dialogue among the characters is so much fun and the cinematography, costumes and visual effects are so beautiful and well done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Dolittle <\/em>takes a new spin on the infamous tale of Dr. Dolittle, who is of course the doctor that speaks to animals. The story begins at Dolittle Mansion, which is an estate provided to him by the Queen of England for serving as her veterinarian. Dolittle Mansion is a sanctuary open to all animals until his wife passes away on an adventure and Dr. Dolittle closes it and isolates himself from people.\u00a0 As the Queen falls ill, Dr. Dolittle is convinced to go on an adventure to find a cure to help save the Queen before it\u2019s too late! <em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.5.jpg?resize=225%2C121&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5336\" width=\"225\" height=\"121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.5.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.5.jpg?resize=768%2C413&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.5.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>(clockwise, from bottom left) Ostrich Plimpton (Kumail Nanjiani), monkeys Elliot and Elsie, parrot Polynesia (Emma Thompson), polar bear Yoshi (John Cena), Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett) and sugar glider Mini (Nick A. Fisher) in &#8220;Dolittle.&#8221; <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The movie trailer does not do this movie justice as I was not overly excited to see movie before going to the screening. My feelings changed greatly after I watched the movie. The writing is very clever with the dialogue for the animals. Everything they say is witty and playful. I also love that the animal characters aren\u2019t stereotypical, as they all need a little bit of fixing. There are some magnificent actors in <em>Dolittle<\/em>, such as Robert Downey Jr. (as Dr. Dolittle), Harry Collett (as Stubbins, Dr. Dolittle\u2019s self-appointed apprentice), Emma Thompson (as the parrot Polly and Dr. Dolittle\u2019s advisor), Rami Malek (as the funny gorilla Chee-Chee), Octavia Spencer (as the enthusiastic duck Dab-Dab), Tom Holland (as the sight-challenged dog Jip), Craig Robinson (as the wise-cracking squirrel Kevin) and Selena Gomez (as the giraffe Betsy). My favorite character is Kevin since he made me laugh the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nmessages of this movie are about perseverance and the importance of family and\nfriends to help you overcome obstacles. <em>Dolittle<\/em>\nhas no bad language, but it does have some mild violence and action scenes, primarily\namong the animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I give this\nmovie 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 9 to 14. Adults will also like\nthis movie. This movie opens in theaters January 17, 2020. Check it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dolittle<br>By Jude A., KIDS FIRST Film Critic, age 13<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UeiC2wq7E2Q\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.4.jpg?resize=225%2C121&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5335\" width=\"225\" height=\"121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.4.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.4.jpg?resize=768%2C413&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.4.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>(from left) Polar bear Yoshi (John Cena), Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett) and gorilla Chee-Chee (Rami Malek) in &#8220;Dolittle,&#8221; directed by Stephen Gaghan.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Dolittle<\/em> is a roaring, barking and chirping fantasy adventure story with great humor and special effects. The film has amazing CGI and the animals look completely real. The movie also has very creative dialogue that fits each of the characters very well. The film has very vibrant colors and beautiful landscapes. Unfortunately, even though the film is not very long (an hour and 41 minutes), some scenes seem very slow and the film feels a lot longer than it actually is. The movie is very comedic and has some laugh out loud moments, but sometimes the humor seems a little forced and unfunny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Dolittle<\/em> follows the retired Doctor Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.) after his wife passes away from a shipwreck. An odd boy named Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett) seems to have the same animal talking abilities as Doctor Dolittle himself and becomes his apprentice. When the Queen of Buckingham Palace (Jessie Buckley) falls gravely ill, Doctor Dolittle, Stubbins and the rest of the animal gang embark on a journey to attain the cure for the Queen to preserve the land they live on and the animal\u2019s sanctuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.3.jpg?resize=225%2C121&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5334\" width=\"225\" height=\"121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.3.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.3.jpg?resize=768%2C413&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.3.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>Antonio Banderas as Rassouli in &#8220;Dolittle,&#8221; directed by Stephen Gaghan.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It is difficult to cast people for this kind of film, because we&#8217;re dealing with lots of animals and I think the casting is amazing! The voiceovers for the animals really make a big difference because they add humor, drama and suspense. The dialogue is very creative and fits each animal very well, making them seem very real. For the most part, the dialogue is very entertaining and creative. However, some lines try to force the humor and come off as not humorous at all. Robert Downey Jr.\u2019s performance is spot on, but his accent seems a little off and inconsistent throughout the film. It seems as if he is trying to be too exotic and it doesn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Dolittle <\/em>fits the PG rating. It has some action and possibly scary creatures that could be frightening to younger viewers. The message of the film is about helping other people, even when it does not benefit you personally. It also points out that when something gets in your way of reaching your goal, don\u2019t give up, figure out a new way to reach that goal. Be creative. Think outside the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Dolittle<\/em> did not soar as high as the\nparrots do in the film so I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. It has amazing visuals\nand CGI, but forced jokes and slow scenes. I recommend this film for ages 8 to\n18. <em>Dolittle <\/em>opens in theaters\nJanuary 17, 2020. Look for it.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dolittle<br>By Sahiba K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 17<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/upkIJ9CnEqE\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.6.jpg?resize=225%2C122&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5337\" width=\"225\" height=\"122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.6.jpg?resize=300%2C162&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.6.jpg?resize=768%2C414&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.6.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>(from left) Lady Rose (Carmel Laniado) and Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett) in &#8220;Dolittle,&#8221; directed by Stephen Gaghan.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, <em>Dolittle <\/em>left me confused because its storyline is all over the place. There are too many plot elements to follow and they do not tie together cohesively in the end. Most of the characters have vague back-stories which are presented in ways that prevent any character from becoming fully developed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The story follows the grief-stricken Doctor Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.) who is mourning the death of his wife. He lives alone with his animal friends including Chee-Chee (Rami Malek), a gorilla and Yoshi (John Cena), a polar bear. When the Queen of England (Jessie Buckley) falls ill, she calls upon Dolittle for help. To save the Queen, he must embark on a perilous journey to find a mythical healing fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Robert Downey Jr. has the quirkiness and personality to play an eccentric individual like Dolittle. However, his potential is overshadowed by his perplexing accent which feels forced and, thus, his voice does not match his emotions or actions very well. Rami Malek plays my favorite character, Chee-Chee, and gives him a sweet, loveable personality. Unfortunately, due to the excess of poorly developed characters, Chee-Chee\u2019s character arch seems irrelevant even though he is one of the better characters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.10.jpg?resize=225%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5341\" width=\"225\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.10.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.10.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.10.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. John Dolittle in &#8220;Dolittle,&#8221; directed by Stephen Gaghan.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The\ngraphics are well done in some aspects but not in others. The gorilla, polar\nbear and the parrot all look realistic and have features that add to their\ncuteness. Other animals such as the dragonfly and the ostrich do not look\nrealistic, which disrupts the mood, making it cartoonish, and contributing to\nthe chaos I felt when viewing the film. Moreover, the graphics in exciting\nscenes, such as those that take place on the ships, are noticeably done in CGI\nand thus the realistic aspect is not achieved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nsaving grace is the creative incorporation of the animals. I enjoyed the scenes\nwhere Dolittle uses his gift of animal communication to ask for help, whether\nto solve the mystery of the Queen\u2019s illness or to run away from the antagonist.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nmessage of <em>Dolittle <\/em>is that the best way to help yourself is to help\nothers. However, this message is stated by the narrator at the end and is\notherwise loosely relevant to what happens throughout the film. I give <em>Dolittle<\/em> 2 out of 5 stars and recommend\nit for ages 5 to 12. Check out <em>Dolittle <\/em>when\nit opens in theatres January 17, 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dolittle<br>By Arjun N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 18<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vXo6LDGpMO8\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Dolittle<\/em> does little in terms of original storytelling, but this reboot offers colorful ambiance and magical performances. Anyone interested in big budget family entertainers is sure to get their money\u2019s worth on a matinee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.2.jpg?resize=225%2C121&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5333\" width=\"225\" height=\"121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.2.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.2.jpg?resize=768%2C412&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.2.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>(from left) Ostrich Plimpton (Kumail Nanjiani), duck Dab-Dab (Octavia Spencer), Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett), polar bear Yoshi (John Cena), gorilla Chee-Chee (Rami Malek) and parrot Polynesia (Emma Thompson) in &#8220;Dolittle,&#8221; directed by Stephen Gaghan.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><br>The reimagining of the <em>Dr. Dolittle <\/em>franchise follows the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), famed English doctor and veterinarian, who hermits himself away behind the high walls of Dolittle Manor with only his collection of exotic animals for company. When the young queen (Jessie Buckley) falls ill, her daughter Rose (Carmel Laniado) asks a reluctant Dolittle to set sail to a mythical island in search of a cure, regaining his humanity and courage and gaining a young, self-appointed apprentice Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Robert Downey Jr. brings his signature charisma and his posh British accent to fill the energetic void left by January releases. His conversations with his animals are seamless; keep in mind, he\u2019s talking to larger-than-life CGI constructions. Regarding the big ensemble cast voicing the animals, they\u2019re all great if a little bit reliant on star power. You wouldn\u2019t know big list actors are voicing the animals without background research or watching the credits. However, there are a few noteworthy exceptions including Rami Malek\u2019s Chee-Chee, a paranoid gorilla, which is greatly characterized and developed. Emma Thompson brings her acerbic demeanor as Poly the parrot. I also enjoyed John Cena and Kumail Nanjiani, as Yoshi and Plimpton, the bickering and bantering polar bear and ostrich that serve as the film\u2019s comic relief. Finally, the film has impressive child performances from Harry Collett, who previously acted on Christopher Nolan\u2019s Dunkirk and Carmel Laniado, both of whose screen presence holds well alongside Robert Downey Jr. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.8.jpg?resize=225%2C127&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5339\" width=\"225\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.8.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.8.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Dolittle.8.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>Octavia Spencer voices duck Dab-Dab in &#8220;Dolittle,&#8221; directed by Stephen Gaghan.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I enjoyed the special effects as they are truly impressive to look at, even a bit too flashy at times. The director Stephen Gaghan blueprints the film in an honest way. However, his writing is trope-ridden and uninspired, at times hodgepodging rather than creating. Don\u2019t expect a developed plot, even if some good messages prevail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The message of this film is about allowing friends to carry your back as Dolittle realizes his reclusiveness is unhealthy and decides to be better. I give this film 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 to 18. The movie releases in theaters January 17, 2020, so check it out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. John Dolittle lives in solitude behind the high walls of his lush manor in 19th-century England. His only companionship comes from an array of exotic animals that he speaks to on a daily basis. But when young Queen Victoria becomes gravely ill, the eccentric doctor and his furry friends embark on an epic adventure to a mythical island to find the cure. Dominic D. comments, \u201cWow! The long anticipation of Dolittle is well worth the wait! A big two thumbs up for director Stephen Gaghan, for knocking this action-packed, comical, fun-loving film out of the ball park!\u201d Arjun N. adds, \u201cDolittle does little in terms of original storytelling, but this reboot offers colorful ambiance and magical performances. Anyone interested in big budget family entertainers is sure to get their money\u2019s worth on a matinee.\u201d Katherine S. has another take on it, \u201cWhat a terrific movie!  The dialogue among the characters is so much fun and the cinematography, costumes and visual effects are so beautiful and well done.\u201d Jude A. adds, \u201cDolittle is a roaring, barking and chirping fantasy adventure story with great humor and special effects\u2026Unfortunately, even though the film is not very long (an hour and 41 minutes), some scenes seem very slow and the film feels a lot longer than it actually is. The movie is very comedic and has some laugh out loud moments, but sometimes the humor seems a little forced and unfunny.\u201d And Sahiba K. wraps it with, \u201cUnfortunately, Dolittle left me confused because its storyline is all over the place. There are too many plot elements to follow and they do not tie together cohesively in the end.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15],"tags":[1236,1229,1230,1235,1244,1238,349,1232,1237,1240,1234,807,1231,351,1242,1239,1166,1241,1233,1243,1163,243,964,1228],"class_list":["post-5330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-feature-film-reviews","tag-antonio-banderas","tag-carmel-laniado","tag-doctor-dolittle","tag-dolittle","tag-dominic-digravio","tag-dr-dolittle","tag-emma-thompson","tag-frances-de-la-tour","tag-jessie-buckley","tag-jim-broadbent","tag-joanna-page","tag-john-cena","tag-kasia-smitniak","tag-kumail-nanjiani","tag-marion-cotillard","tag-michael-sheen","tag-movie-reviews","tag-octavia-spencer","tag-oliver-chris","tag-rami-malek","tag-reviews-by-kids-for-kids","tag-robert-downey-jr","tag-selena-gomez","tag-tom-hiolland"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/saS5I2-dolittle","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5330"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5330\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5436,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5330\/revisions\/5436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}