“Dr. Doolittle” is based on a character by Hugh Lofting and carried over several volumes. The movie loosely embraces the basic elements of the story, with a whole lot of Hollywood thrown in for good measure. It also includes elements from books farther along in the series and is not limited to just the first volume.
The movie stars Rex Harrison as the good doctor, the owner of a parrot named Polynesia. This amazing parrot understands the languages of many different types of animals, and has taught them to Dr. Dolittle. This helps him immensely in his practice as a veterinarian, as he can ask the animals how they are feeling and understand their answers. This leads to such curious things as putting glasses on a horse — but the horse was much happier afterward. Who’s to be the judge?
His friend Matthew brings a little boy named Tommy to see him, and he tells them both the story of how he came to speak all these languages. He is currently learning how to speak goldfish, as he has plans to go find the Pink Sea Snail.
Before that plan can be carried out, Dr. Dolittle comes in posession of a Pushme-pullyu (a two-headed llama) which becomes the star of a local attraction. Soon afterwards, the doctor is contacted by a despondent circus seal, who wishes to return to the ocean. He sneaks her out of the circus dressed as a little old woman and takes her down to the bay, where he throws her in. Sadly enough, he is witnessed throwing a little old woman into the water, and comes up on charges of murder.
He has a hard time explaining himself to the judge. I imagine any judge would have a difficult time believing that the seal “asked” to be thrown in the water. The doctor is put in an insane asylum, and is broken out by his friends, human and animal.
They decide their best course of action is to go in search of that Pink Sea Snail. They end up on Seastar Island, save all the people, and the doctor flies home on a giant moth, having learned that he’s been pardoned and that all the animals in England have gone on strike until his return.
Most of these elements are found in the Lofting books, but have been greatly exaggerated for Hollywood. Nonetheless, if you’re set for a bunch of high-imagination hijinks, this movie could be for you. It was rated G.
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