Dr. Dolittle: Tail To The Chief DVD Review

I was so happy to hear that John Lassetter stopped all straight to DVD production at Disney. Then I remembered, other studios still continue this horrid practice.

Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief, is the fourth film in the Dr. Dolittle series, the second released straight to DVD. The only original cast member who has appeared in all four films is Kyla Pratt, as the youngest daughter Maya Dolittle. Yet, the film has what should be a stellar cast. Both Greg Ellis (Bruce the Wallaby) and Niall Matter (Cole Fletcher) are cast in two highly anticipated films: Star Trek and The Watchmen respectively. However, as the special features clearly show, this movie is all about the animals. And though the creatures are cute, they cannot make up for the storyline, or lack there of.

The plot is convoluted and far-fetched. After slacking off her senior year, Maya Dolittle needs a miracle to get into San Francisco University’s Veterinarian Department. Lucky for her, the President of the United States is having a canine problem. The first dog, Daisy, has begun to rebel right before a very important state dinner to preserve a rainforest. It’s Maya’s job to rehabilitate Daisy, while hitting on intern Cole Fletcher, and helping the President with communications problems between he and his teenage daughter, Courtney (played by Elise Gatien). To top it all off, there is a requisite end of the film song and dance, with a version of “Shout”. This rendition is so sporadic in its editing, I’d rather watch Cloverfield five times in a row.

The majority of the film feels like an educational video, a sermon to the audience about protecting the environment, saving endangered species, and to just “keep on swinging” when failure arises. I don’t know what was stuffed down my throat more: the various moral points or the numerous plot twists.

The special features continue this trend, with two featurettes on the animal cast and two more about an animal conservatory and endangered species. The DVD, however, does include a first look at Horton Hears A Who, a clip that outshines the entire DVD.

I was surprised to see that there was a fourth Dr. Dolittle and after watching this film I was horrified to hear that there is a fifth one in production. Eddie Murphy, if we forgive you for Norbit, will you please come back!