 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief
- Review Date: November 2, 2008
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Famous vet's daughter finds her own way to shine.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this DVD is a funny, enjoyable family movie with good messages about overcoming failure and following your own instincts. Animal conservation gets center stage. Talking animals edge towards mild crudeness for laughs. The teenaged daughter of the president sneaks out to an unsupervised party where drinking takes place.
What's the story?
The fourth in the Dr. Dolittle series and the second to be focused solely on youngest Dolittle daughter, Maya (Kyla Pratt), DR. DOLITTLE: TAIL TO THE CHIEF sticks to formula. This time Maya, whose famous dad is off in Antarctica, is looking for a way to beef up her college application to mythical San Francisco University's veterinary school. When the adorable pet dog of the president of the United States goes rogue, Maya gets her chance to prove herself, save an international wildlife treaty, and get the college recommendation letter of a lifetime. But Daisy (voiced by Jennifer Coolidge) isn't buying into Maya's borrowed veterinary techniques, and Maya has to find her own way to tackle the assignment she's been given.
Is it any good?
As in previous movies, Maya is helped by her sidekick dog Lucky (Norm MacDonald) who gets all the best lines in the movie. Animal-loving kids will likely be enchanted by scenes where Maya interacts with wise-cracking wild animals, particularly a saucy French monkey named Monkey (Phil Proctor). The president, played by Peter Coyote, is reassuringly compassionate and tough, though his relationships with his own daughter and dog are far from perfect. His pep talk to Maya when she is about to give up, about failure being a part of life, is a valuable lesson for parents to reinforce.
It's rare that a fourth installment of a movie franchise mines new ground, and in that sense Tail to the Chief delivers as expected. But the movie qualifies as entertaining fare appropriate for the whole family, and it underscores good parenting lessons.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about Daisy the dog's behavior. Besides food and shelter, what responsibilities do pet owners have for their animals? Maya has to find her own way to solve Daisy' problems; have you ever tried a different approach than everyone else when faced with an obstacle?
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| Topics: | wild animals |
| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment |
| Director: | Craig Shapiro |
| Cast: | Kyla Pratt, Norm MacDonald, Peter Coyote |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 90 minutes |
| DVD release date: | November 9, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | brief mild language and some rude behavior. |
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