Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

Dr. Dolittle 2

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Eddie Murphy's animal antics are fun, with some potty humor.

Movie PG 2001 96 minutes
Dr. Dolittle 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 8+

Based on 4 parent reviews

imawesome21010
imawesome21010 Adult
February 13, 2020
age 7+

This title has:

Great role models
nearlyfallinstar
nearlyfallinstar Parent of baby and 2-year-old
May 16, 2011
age 8+

A Little Too Much "Hey, Baby"

This has quite a bit of sexual innuendo in it. The main plot of the movie is to get two bears (a rare and endangered species) to mate so that the forest they live in will not be destroyed. There are also several other bits that I guess you could call sexual come on. One of which, Dr. Dolittle gives a turtle some Viagra and he goes after his mate with gusto (nothing is shown-it's just a lead up to and cut away thing). Also the drunk monkey is a bit much and wasn't really an addition to the film. On the positive side, Dr. Dolittle is unfailingly kind as he helps people and animals. He is also very concerned with his family and involved with the ins and outs of his daughters. Not too bad, but I wouldn't let my girls watch this till they were a little older.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Great messages
Great role models
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In DR. DOLITTLE 2, Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) is charged with introducing a tame bear into the forest so that he can mate with the last female of their endangered species, in order to protect the forest from developers. Steve Zahn and Lisa Kudrow provide voices for the two bears. Meanwhile, Dolittle has some problems at home with his teen daughter Charisse (played by Raven Symone) who has a new boyfriend (rapper Lil' Zane) and a secret she isn't ready to discuss.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (4 ):

It's a shame that before the opening credits are over, we've already seen bathroom jokes and sexual humor -- but at least this time it's more kid-friendly. (The 1998 Dr. Dolittle was rated PG-13). On the upside, Murphy is just great as Dr. Dolittle, content to be the straight man to an adorable assortment of wise-cracking animals. And the story is cute; Dr. Dolittle 2 is a twist on the old classic Born Free. Zahn and Kudrow offer such delightful voices to the bears that viewers want them to get together as much as Dolittle does.

Watch for the fun cameo by Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. Other celebs do voice cameos, including an uncredited Arnold Schwarzenegger, but Irwin's segment offers the most laughs.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the responsibility of prioritizing family while also helping others who need support. They can also talk about the importance of listening to the people you love.

  • How does the movie convey a pro-environmental message?

  • How does Dr. Dolittle 2 compare to other movies in which animals talk and act like humans?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate