After several weeks of "Go, go, go!" I can honestly say I'm ready to do little. As in Dolittle. I have spent many late nights trying to perfect interactive digital activities for my students, several hours of video conferencing with colleagues and family, and plenty of afternoons helping my own kids navigate this new world of distance learning. I need a movie night! And with one of my all-time favourite actors as the lead, Dolittle was just the right flick for chilling out with the family.
While we missed out on watching Dolittle in theatres, we were delighted to have received a complimentary copy on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital. Last Friday, we pulled out our stovetop popcorn popper and enjoyed a fresh batch while curling up on the sofa. It was a welcome escape from my busy work-from-home routine and plus, Robert Downey Jr.
Nuff said.
The story follows the journey of Dolittle, an eccentric doctor played by Robert Downey Jr. who is called upon to save the queen after she has fallen gravely ill. He reluctantly leaves his lush 19th-century home in England and embarks on a perilous adventure alongside his animal companions with whom he has the ability to communicate. Joining him is an unexpected apprentice Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett) and together they form an unlikely bond. The adventurous tale is brought to life with an all-star cast that includes the voice talents of Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, Selena Gomez, John Cena, Tom Holland, and more.
Overall, we enjoyed the storyline, along with the impressive CGI and visual effects. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Antonio Banderas, despite my having to do a double-take when his character was first introduced. I also appreciated the witty repartee amongst the animal characters and my son particularly enjoyed the fight scene between Chee-Chee the gorilla (Malek) and Barry, the gold-fanged tiger (Ralph Fiennes). For some reason, I was a little thrown off by Roberty Downey Jr.'s performance and I'm not quite sure if it's because of his English accent, his raspy voice or that it sounded more like a voiceover. At any rate, he was a great fit for the role simply because he does "quirky" so well.
Dolittle is now available to own on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.
Bonus features include:
TALK TO THE ANIMALS – Dolittle is surrounded by a motley cast of characters. Take a peek at all the fun the cast had giving each of the animals their unique voice.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. & HARRY: MENTOR AND MENTEE – Acting opposite a legendary actor like Robert Downey Jr. can be an intimidating experience, but Harry Collett handled it like a pro. See the unique bond the two actors formed on-set, and how Downey took the film’s young co-star under his wing.
BECOMING THE GOOD DOCTOR - See the process of how this team of talented artists brought this film to life, and how Robert Downey Jr. transformed into the iconic Dolittle.
ANTONIO BANDERAS: PIRATE KING - Antonio Banderas discusses what attracted him to the project, his experiences working with Robert Downey Jr., and what he brought to the role of King Rassouli.
THE WICKED DR. MÜDFLY - Who is the nefarious villain Dr. Blair Müdfly? Michael Sheen dives into his character's motivations for being Dolittle's foil.
A MOST UNUSUAL HOUSE - It takes a special home to accommodate humans and animals alike. Explore the unique rooms and modifications that allow Dolittle to house anyone or anything - big or small.
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Disclosure: I received product to facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed therein are my own.
- Wednesday, May 13, 2020
- 6 Comments
