Common Sense Note
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?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Emily Ashby
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.
Worried that her daughter's confusion is causing her too much anxiety, Maya's mom (Kristen Wilson) ships her daughter off to the Durango Ranch for a summer of cowgirl lessons to help her sort things out. Determined to start fresh with this new group of cohorts, Maya keeps her ability -- and her now-famous last name -- to herself in hopes that her bunkmates (and the handsome son of the ranch's owner) won't see her as the freak she thinks she is.
But when Durango faces financial ruin and Maya's ability may be the saving grace, she must choose between keeping her secret safe and admitting to her new friends who she really is. In that moment of truth, Maya discovers not only the power of true friendship but also the inner strength she never knew she had.
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.
Fans may also enjoy Babe, 101 Dalmatians, and the 1967 Doctor Dolittle musical starring Rex Harrison.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentSome female characters wear skimpy tops and short shorts. There's one very brief scene with a kiss, and the few instances of sexual innuendo relate to a rooster who's lost his groove with the ladies in the henhouse. |
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ViolenceDude ranch students wrestle cattle and pigs and try out bull-riding simulators, which toss them around a bit. A couple of characters are thrown from broncos, but there's no injury from the falls. One girl hurts her hand hitting a gate in frustration. |
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Language"Oh my God" is as strong as it gets. |
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Social BehaviorThe cast is multicultural, and most of the main characters are African American. The two prominent adult figures are patient and understanding with teens, helping them work out issues productively. Multiple jokes are made at the expense of an overweight teen, though they're played for laughs and he even adds to them at times. Mild potty humor includes flatulence from animals. The movie includes obvious messages about teamwork and self-respect. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoA teen is shown holding a bottle of alcohol at a party and is blamed for spiking the punch (when in fact a mischievous monkey did it). Teens at a club drink something that looks like beer. |
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