Barnes & Noble

This PG-rated sequel to Eddie Murphy's critter-crazy 1998 hit is much more family-friendly than the original, and that's a good thing. Murphy, too, seems to be a bit more at ease here, even as the animals continue to get all the best lines. Dr. Dolittle's veterinary practice couldn’t be better, but his ability to talk to the animals still embarrasses his 16-year-old daughter. The good doctor's life is thrown into further turmoil when the Godbeaver, a woodland capo, makes him an offer he can't refuse: Save a forest from unscrupulous developers (Jeffrey Jones and Kevin Pollack). To do that, he will have to find a mate for an endangered female bear (voiced by Friends star Lisa Kudrow). The solution involves coaxing a third-rate circus bear (Steve Zahn) who is, well, a bit sheepish. So Dolittle goes into Dr. Ruth Westheimer mode, which recalls the original Dr. Dolittle, Rex Harrison, in another role -- as Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, tutoring…Eliza Doolittle! It would be enough to give you Hepburn, were it not such good fun. Dolittle 2 has all the bear necessities: animal antics and the bodily-function gags to make youngsters giggle, plus pop-culture references and the occasional mildly naughty joke to keep adults from squawking. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

Eddie Murphy returns as a doctor with a gift for talking to animals in this sequel to a box-office blockbuster. Murphy is John Dolittle, who this time around attempts to save an endangered Pacific forest from lumber industry forces by reintegrating an endangered species of bear back into the wild. Unfortunately, Dolittle's candidate is a performing bear (voice of Steve Zahn) with a taste for junk food and no natural skills in the wild. If Dolittle is going to save the species and its habitat, he must get him to mate with a fussy female (Lisa Kudrow) by providing lessons in winning the heart of the opposite sex. Dr. Dolittle's problems are compounded by a local animal work stoppage and furry woodland creatures who have organized their own version of the Mafia. Norm Macdonald returns as the voice of Lucky the Dog, co-starring with Kevin Pollak, Jeffrey Jones, Michael Rapaport, Molly Shannon, Reni Santoni, and Kristen Wilson. Karl Williams

Product Details

• UPC: 024543026679
• Source: 20TH CENTURY FOX
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Cinemascope (2.35:1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English, Français
• Subtitles: English, Espańol
• Time: 1:27:00
• Sales Rank: 36,897

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Laugh Out Loud Collection
• Dr. Dolittle / Dr. Dolittle 2
• Family Fun Pack
• Like Mike / Dr Dolittle 2
• Like Mike / Dr Dolittle 2
• Dr. Dolittle Gift Set
• Dr. Dolittle Gift Set
• Dr. Dolittle 4-Pack