Have you ever watched a movie that puts on one appearance, then shows you its true colors half way into it... If not rent, Dr. Doolittle 2, the ’’charming kid’s movie.’’
I need to say that I am all for protection of our wildlife and habitats.
That said...
Parents, if you are looking for a good family movie, there are plenty of them out there, including the original Dr. Doolittle, but please heed the following warning about this one.
The Story
Loggers (stereotypically ’’white’’ and ’’Republican’’) are set to destroy a large woodland area. Creatures turn to Doolittle for help. He sets out to convert a male circus bear (which happens to be an endangered species of bear), in order to procreate with the lone female from the area. This would keep the woodland safe by making it a sanctuary. Thus, the fight begins...
The Pros
The first 30-40 minutes were fairly little-hearted, much like the first one. The animals, most notably the ’’Family, ’’ are hilarious. Archie the bear (voiced by Steve Zahn), is good, as is the raccoon. The ’’alpha-male’’ scene is also quite funny. If only the rest of the movie followed suit...
The Cons (and this movie was one big one)
Hmmm...where to start:
First off, funding had to have been provided by The Sierra Club and Greenpeace. I have never seen a more slanted ’’family’’ movie, in recent memory. Wherever your politics lie, ’’heavy-handed’’ is ’’heavy-handed.’’ After the pleasant, non-preachy first 30-40 minutes, a constant barrage of environmentalist rhetoric, complete with the pro-forest villain saying, ’’I fought the Democrats, I can handle a few animals.’’
Message movies are fine to a point, but I get serious doses of it on TV and in music all the time, as it is, so every once in a while I would like to just see a movie for laughs. Goodnight, they’ve already destroyed the original premise of Dr. Doolitle (books/original Rex Harrison film), so by now I should expect these little nuances.
The ending is so trite and 100% grade A Wisconsin cheese, that my stomach churned sitting in my chair. [Minor spoiler coming] All the animals ’’organize’’ and fend off the loggers, in quite an overboard fashion. You have to see it, believe me - but that is not a recommendation to rent this stinkin’ movie..
Also, the director seems captivated by the ’’matured figure’’ of the 16-year old daughter in the film. Skin tight outfits just seem a little inappropriate for this ’’family movie.’’
There are only a few profanities, but luckily nothing too bad on that end.
I am writing this review less than 10 minutes after viewing the film, because it set me off. I just don’t like being suckered. Keep political correctness out of my family movies.
Bottom Line:
Clearly a propaganda film, which is sad, given that ’’charming family movies’’ now seem to be the endangered species.