Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts
By Nancy Davis Kho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Latest sequel is surprisingly fun; good role models, too.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
e.g. You should think twice before going with a tween!
Report this review
What's the Story?
DR. DOOLITTLE: MILLION DOLLAR MUTTS is the third in the straight-to-DVD series leaving Dr. Doolittle himself out of the picture and featuring instead his daughter Maya (Kyla Pratt), who has inherited the family gift for talking to animals. Maya is all set to start veterinary school but balks at the thought of spending seven years studying before she can help animals. She's given a chance to make a quicker impact in the form of a reality show called Animal Talkers, in which she'll star with celebutante Tiffany Monaco (Tegan Moss). But when Maya's vision of using the show to help animals is at odds with the commercial realities of Hollywood, she has to decide how best to achieve her goal.
Is It Any Good?
Each iteration of the Dr. Doolittle series has given the Maya Doolittle character a chance to mature, and in this movie she is truly a stellar role model for girls. She's smart and -- after learning from a few bad decisions -- understands why education is a priority. She is polite to everyone who she meets, human or animal, and consequently is liked by nearly everyone she encounters. She has a great relationship with her mom, and apologizes when she makes mistakes. And Pratt is a beautiful, healthy girl without being scarily thin -- something that the down-to-earth love interest Brandon (Brandon Jay McClaren) seems to appreciate.
But don't get the idea that this is a preachy or treacly film. Those positive messages are easily woven into a straightforward plot that even young kids can follow, and the funniest lines are given to the talking turtles, snakes, and dogs that are in every scene. An extended riff on Hollywood celebrities and their pets, including a tough rapper named Ridiculuz (Doron Bell) and his pet rabbit Mr. Fluffernufferman, should have even older kids laughing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the difference between having talent and having training. Maya's family gift -- the ability to talk to animals -- only gets her so far in her goal to help animals; did that come as a surprise?
Someone observes that Tiffany has photo opportunities, not friends. Do you think her celebrity plays a part in that?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 19, 2009
- On DVD or streaming: May 19, 2009
- Cast: Judge Reinhold, Kyla Pratt, Tegan Moss
- Director: Alex Zamm
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Wild Animals
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: some rude humor
- Last updated: April 13, 2022
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
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