Doctor Dolittle 2 [2001] [DVD]

Highly suspicious of any story relying on the idea of a hapless animal cast forced into the guise of human beings, I'd made it very public that I would not be going to see Dr Dolittle. However, after a TV trailer caught me unaware one night, rendering me as helpless and gasping for air as a three year old sobbing with laughter, we took off to the cinema for the full, uplifting, ridiculous experience.
Starting where the Dr Dolittle 1 left off (but you don't need to have seen the first film to enjoy this one) the story is that of a jaded show bear forced out of his comfy showbiz life to save the future of an endangered variation of his own species - he's the only one left, and the other's a female: cue, one sparkling, silly tableau after another as the bear swaps limos and 5-star treatment for chest-beating and mud. Parallel to this is a bubbling tale of adolescent strife in the Dolittle household, a move to the country, stitched together with the thread of a crackling script, hair-curling jokes and the inevitable animal-human common denominator of the digestive system - or more specifically, its waste disposal system!
With digital tools and animatronics currently at breathtaking levels of technical skill, I had hardly expected the animals in this film to be anything less than impressive. However, I hadn't counted on such an expert and seamless blending of real creatures, sensitive voice-overs and pixels. Oh, and the humans weren't bad too - Eddie Murphy proving why there was so much fuss about him to begin with, supported by a family delivering just the right amount of 'ham'.
So suspend your disbelief for an hour or two, forget what your last birthday told you - hey, you're five again, right? - and laugh like a drain at this clever, careful, joyous, ridiculous story told with a tongue planted firmly in cheek.
Who knows - I might even get Beatrix Potter off that dusty shelf ...

Eddie Murphy shows why he really is the best at what he does. His versatility and individuality is clearly shown in this film.

It makes a change to see him in a different role this time playing the character of a slightly older man, a mature family man.

Great entertainment, lots of laughs, very enjoyable.

I first saw this film in the cinema, and I loved it...we all know most sequels suck, but this one deserves an oscar. The film is amazing, the storyline is played out well by the cast, and you never get tired of the endless laughs. It's a film for all the family, and just like me, you'll enjoy watching it over and over again.