Video/DVD Review: Dr. Dolittle 3
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this third installment in the
movie series focuses on a teen struggling to fit in with the
"cool kids" at her school, most of whom ridicule her because
she can talk to animals. While tweens may not relate to her
particular gifts, they could see similarities between her
social struggles and theirs. The movie is filled with positive
messages about appreciating your own abilities, respecting
differences of character, and finding strength and support from
the right friends. The lack of questionable subject matter and
presence of a diverse group of characters combine to make this
a great choice for tweens.
Families can talk about friendship. How do you define
friendship? What traits do you look for in friends? How can
friendship be strained by the stresses of popularity? Who
determines what defines the "in" crowd? How would you react if
one of your friends was shunned by the cool kids? What if you
were given the cold shoulder? Families can also discuss how
this movie compares to the previous
Dr. Dolittle movies. Which one do you like best?
Maya Dolittle (Kyla Pratt) wants what just about any 17-year-old girl wants: to fit in. She's finally on the verge of breaking through to the "A-list" of her high school's popularity gauge, and she couldn't be happier. With her sights set on a cute guy and her foot in the door to coolness, Maya feels she's finally on her way. But every time things seem to be falling into place, her genetics start working overtime against her. Since she inherited her veterinarian father's ability to communicate with animals, most people (including most of her peers) think she's off her rocker, and she's desperate to show them otherwise. When her mother (Kristen Wilson) ships her off to the Durango Ranch for a summer of cowgirl lessons to help her sort things out, Maya is determined to make a fresh start.
DR. DOLITTLE 3 is the third installment in the movie series based loosely on the children's books by Hugh Loftling. Although this one lacks the star power of Eddie Murphy (who played Maya's father in Dr. Dolittle and Dr. Dolittle 2), it's the most family friendly of the trio, and Pratt gives a funny, feel-good performance as a teen struggling to balance her uniqueness with the pressures of popularity, all while tending to the issues of some very needy animals.
Tweens will likely pick up on similarities between Maya's social anxieties and their own issues with peers, and all viewers will notice the movie's strong positive messages about self-respect, friendship, and teamwork. Parents won't miss the crude humor that plagued the first two movies; here, kid-friendly comedy like slimy egg fights in a henhouse and a flatulent horse ensure that the movie is fun and never boring.
Babe101 Dalmatians (Live Action)
Doctor Dolittle (1967)
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