The original Doctor Dolittle was definitely one of the films of my youth that I watched over and over again! It starred Rex Harrison and blended together three separate novels: The Story of Doctor Dolittle, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, and Doctor Dolittle’s Circus.
I can still remember most of the lyrics to my favorite song from that 1967 film:
If I could talk to the animals, just imagine it
Chatting to a chimp in Chimpanzee
Imagine talking to a tiger, chatting to a cheetah
What a neat achievement that would be!
If we could talk to the animals, learn their languages
Maybe take an animal degree
I’d study Elephant and Eagle, Buffalo and Beagle
Alligator, Guinea Pig, and Flea . . .
There were remakes in the 90’s with Eddie Murphy that were good – but for me, Eddie Murphy never seemed like Dr. Dolittle. For me, Rex Harrison would always be Dr. Dolittle – then, here comes Robert Downey Jr! OMG – he is definitely Dr. Dolittle!
I can clearly picture one of my childhood films with RDJ as the lead. He’s perfect for the part!
The trailer that was released earlier this year has me eager to see Dolittle when it’s released in January:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hej47fWFLQs[/embedyt]
Now this latest trailer showing Robert Downey Jr. auditioning the animals for the film had me laughing hysterically in a way that only Robert Downey Jr. can make someone laugh. It has me feeling even more eager to see the film next month. RDJ has a knack for making people laugh!
Watch Robert Downey Jr. audition the most talented animals in the business for DOLITTLE.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIcCwLTfgIw[/embedyt]
About Dolittle
Robert Downey Jr. electrifies one of literature’s most enduring characters in a vivid reimagining of the classic tale of the man who could talk to animals.
After losing his wife seven years earlier, the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle (Downey), 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, Wild Rose) 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.
The doctor is joined on his quest by a young, self-appointed apprentice (Dunkirk’s Harry Collett) and a raucous coterie of animal friends, including an anxious gorilla (Oscar® winner Rami Malek), an enthusiastic but bird-brained duck (Oscar® winner Octavia Spencer), a bickering duo of a cynical ostrich (The Big Sick’s Kumail Nanjiani) and an upbeat polar bear (John Cena, Bumblebee) and a headstrong parrot (Oscar® winner Emma Thompson), who serves as Dolittle’s most trusted advisor and confidante.
The film also stars Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen (The Queen) and Oscar® winner Jim Broadbent and features additional voice performances from Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard, Frances de la Tour, Carmen Ejogo, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, Tom Holland, and Craig Robinson.
Directed by Academy Award® winner Stephen Gaghan (Syriana, Traffic), Dolittle is produced by Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum under their Roth/Kirschenbaum Films (Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent) and Susan Downey (Sherlock Holmes franchise, The Judge) for Team Downey. The film is executive produced by Robert Downey Jr., Sarah Bradshaw (The Mummy, Maleficent) and Zachary Roth (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil).
DOLITTLE – In Theaters January 17
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