Common Sense Media Review
Famous vet's daughter finds her own way to shine.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief
Parent and Kid Reviews
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?
Animal-loving kids will likely be enchanted by scenes where Maya interacts with wise-cracking wild animals, particularly a saucy French monkey named Monkey. As in previous movies, Maya is helped by her sidekick dog Lucky (Norm MacDonald) who gets all the best lines in the movie. 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.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 9, 2008
- Cast : Kyla Pratt , Norm MacDonald , Peter Coyote
- Director : Craig Shapiro
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief mild language and some rude behavior.
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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