Dolittle reviewed by Mark Kermode

Mark Kermode reviews Dolittle. Dr. Dolittle, a physician with the ability to talk to animals, sets out to find a healing tree on a mysterious island - the only hope of saving the life of the dying Queen.
Please tell us what you think of the film -- or Mark’s review of the film. We love to include your views on the show every Friday.
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[@mrjamesblack7]

Mark: "It is SHHHHHHHH..." *Mayo's stare intensifies* Mark: "...OCKINGLY BAD"

[@izaiahtyler3385]

i know im randomly asking but does anybody know a trick to get back into an instagram account? I was stupid forgot my login password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me

[@jamesonsolomon4943]

@Izaiah Tyler instablaster :)

[@SteveSmith-wk9dx]

"It was shot in 2018"... unfortunately it recovered and Mark had to go review it.

[@Torthrodhel]

hahaha

[@calreid3208]

Michael Sheen is Welsh too... I feel an unprecedented amount of pity for him having to act opposite that!

[@adrianchell]

@@WG55 Or doing his Twilight laugh.

[@pamelaatkinsonscats2873]

You have to wonder why RDJ chose a Welsh accent, a notoriously difficult one to do if you're not Welsh. Michael Sheen must've been squirming with embarrassment.

[@RJ-yr5wr]

Pamela Atkinson I can confirm as a Welshman that his attempt was admirable but cringeworthy.

[@marknewbold2583]

Should have done Kairdiff

[@amiciprocul8501]

Tom Hardy's Welsh accent in Locke was good then again he is from the UK.

[@lamalama9717]

I wonder if he chose the accent because on some level he realised the movie was a mess so tried to salvage a bit of a personal challenge or acting integrity out of it.

[@joolsevelyn]

“It is SHHHHHH... ockingly poor.” Can’t just be me who thought that he was gonna say something else there 😂

[@phoenix2x]

I was about to say the exact same thing! 😂

[@mrhed0nist]

I just did a quick search for the trailer to hear that accent. Seems to me that RDJ is doing an impression of Johnny Depp doing an impression of a Welshman.

[@alanpennie8013]

That's very meta.

[@allenu]

So you're saying he's the dude playing the dude, disguised as another dude?

[@jamstonjulian6947]

Never ceases to amaze me how much mileage Hollywood gets out of the most uninteresting ideas.

[@alanpennie8013]

Even if the original flopped they'll still remake it because it's on the radar now.

[@TheGreenAssassinFTW]

As much as I like movies to be good, there's something so glorious about Kermode just tearing into something. 4:26 has to be the funniest thing I've heard all week.

[@Wowtar]

Coming in 2020: Robert Downey Jr. in: 'Public Domain: The Movie'.

[@Omegaspeedmaster69]

What probably happened was that Robert DJ stepped off the plane at Cardiff airport and vowed to hire and pay the first man he met to teach him how to do the Welsh accent. But unfortunately the man who was chosen wasnt Welsh but from Newcastle. He pretend to be Welsh so he could hang out with Robert DJ and get paid lots of money. Shame on you geordie.

[@willr4217]

I saw the trailer in a beautiful little cinema in Wales, and my cousin leaned over, asked what the accent was, and concluded it was probably French.

[@meltonthegamer]

😂😂😂🍿

[@richardellis8193]

He didn't like it then...

[@bobbystevens90]

I've been waiting to hear Mark's review of this film for three weeks and it did not disappoint. This film bombarded my online experience with ads to buy tickets for weeks and I was so angry at it for that. Nobody wants to see Robert Downey, Jr.'s Masterclass in Ego Projects: Wasting Audience Time and Studio Resources. 5-10 smaller scale and potentially better films could have been made for this film's budget. Thank you Mark for your hilarious review of this garbage film.

[@kimwexler9393]

Agreed. Though I have to say Christopher Eccleston's N. Irish accent is remarkably good (I'm N. Irish).

[@nickdenbow4379]

Honestly, when I was watching this film I was thinking 'Errr...is RJD's entire dialogue re-dubbed?' How many goes do you think they had at it before they said 'Yep, that's the one...'....:O

[@Progdrummer]

Check out Michael Sheen reading Philip Pullmans Book of Dust 1,& 2 he voices all the characters brilliantly.

[@coppershark1973]

Should’ve had Michael Sheen as Doolittle perhaps?

[@sreisny98]

Dolittle is an underated gift of schlock.

[@Stokielad_Ed]

First decent rant of the year, excellent!

[@davidsteel8324]

I was so distracted by RDJ’s voice. Thank god it wasn’t just me.

[@Kinography]

RDJ’s accent must be REALLY bad for Kermode to put Willem Dafoe from The Lighthouse and Don Cheadle from Oceans in the same category

[@cwbrooks5329]

I read and LOVED all of these books when I was younger. They're not "funny." They're a series of amazing adventures, much closer to a Harry Potter books in sensibility than the stupid oneliner/slapstick this film seems to be going for. It's a shame, because now that "Hollywood" has taken another try and fail at this material, we aren't likely to see another attempt for a long time. Actually, these books would probably work better as a television series, if producers ever figure out that entertainment for children doesn't have to be rubbish. As an American, I hate to say this, but this material probably needs a UK director and team to get it done right. Okay, I'll stop ranting now.

[@ffeff8353]

Totally agree. Sadly, no one reads books any longer and this is what they think this story is all about...

[@cwbrooks5329]

@THE NEW HOUSE Yeah, I knew I was off the mark, but I was trying to make the point that somehow Dr. Doolittle got dragged into the sewer of "Family Comedy" and that is so far away from the spirit of adventure that the original series was about. It's nice to read that you remember them and love them as I did. I truly hope that someday the right director takes an interest in the original books and produces a series that is worthy of the source.

[@cwbrooks5329]

@@ffeff8353 It's a shame that such a great series has gotten such terrible treatment when other children's classics have fared better. (Imagine if Little Women, for example, hit the screen as a RomCom stuffed with inane gags.) I truly hope someone intelligent and creative gives Dr. Doolittle another chance someday.

[@cwbrooks5329]

@THE NEW HOUSE Point taken. I just wish that if there were going to be a film or television adaptation, it didn't have to be complete garbage.

[@curiousworld7912]

Sounds like it would make a great double-feature with 'Cats'. :)

[@darwincity]

You won’t get nightmares after watching “Doolittle”.

[@Electroporcupine]

I love that Mayo knew, based on nothing but their history together, that that Mark was trying to trip him up with that seemingly innocuous "Hit Or Miss" question.

[@BradleyAdams]

I... I think he liked it?

[@KazWhittle]

I saw the trailer a few times and wondered what accent he was using, I then read that it was Welsh. I'm Welsh. I sound typically Welsh.... and I'm embarrassed that that accent was ment to be welsh. Just... no

[@bryankilvinski]

I had a feeling Mark would reference Russell Crowe when talking about bad accents! :D

[@shajali5481]

I just watched this with my 9year old son ..... He enjoyed it. But I thought it was an utterly ridiculous...... Something was off ....... Just realized now it's dubbed.

[@dantilley]

The pulling a suit of armour out of a reptile's backside scene sounds pretty funny actually!

[@thomasdavies5415]

So it’s a maybe...?

[@citizenwolf8720]

haha, that was a great review. Now, how does Downey's accent performance compare to Dick Van Dyck in Mary Poppins? Surely that's the benchmark accent? Or do we have a new winner?

[@ethanwarren8977]

what do you think of his accent in sherlock holmes?

[@erkinefeyaltrk512]

Will you be putting the movie on KZbin

[@Cartoonman154]

SAS Ranulph Fiennes planned to blow up the dam that the 1968 production built for Dolittle. lol

[@ManubibiWalsh]

As a long time RDJ fan, this is the funniest roasting I’ve ever heard. I mean, I love the guy’s work, but let’s be real: dude can’t do accents to save his life. I wouldn’t hold it against him if he just chose roles requiring he speak with his own accent, but it just seems like... like he tries his hardest to embarrass himself with ridiculous attempts at speaking with another accent. There are actors who can pull passable accents, he can’t. And usually I don’t notice accents because I’m not even anglophone and to me English is English. But... I can’t hear it when it’s this bad. Robert, I love you but please stop. You’re American, so play American roles, I’m begging you. As for the movie... yeah, I haven’t seen it bit when I saw the trailer I knew it’s a blatantly bad one. I hope the people working on it had fun, at least.

[@TallinnTadgh]

pheeeewwwww, thanks Mark,, I was thinking of going to see this with my nephews for a half-term treat, a lucky escape.

[@TeZXSpectrum]

You guys should watch the Josh Rogan show with the Robert Downey Jr interview he goes into great detail about the welsh accent. Can't find any clips on KZbin regards the his accent. Wonder why? Even my 9-year old doesn't want to go and see this movie. He likes the original Rex Harrington and Eddie Murphy versions. And he hopes Iron man will return one day!

[@TeZXSpectrum]

God damnit! You uncovered me as RDJ fan. Always liked him in Air America when he started with Mel Gibberson. Sorry not too good with names just remember faces. 👍👍

[@boneyarsebogman]

The trailer song is pretty damn amazing!

[@theblackswordsman9951]

Is Mark gonna reveiw the new Makoto Shinkai film Weathering With You? Its been out for a while now in UK cinemas.

[@theloniousmorphy]

I'm sure he reviewed it on the podcast. It's just not been uploaded on to KZbin.

[@theblackswordsman9951]

@@theloniousmorphy Just looked through all the recent ones and its not mentioned in any of the titles. Did they talk about it offhand?

[@doswillrule]

@@theblackswordsman9951 I've just uploaded it if you're interested! It was in the episode with Charlize Theron

[@theblackswordsman9951]

@@doswillrule Thank you

[@robinhawes8843]

I've got the Oscer fever, hope you got it too!

[@tma2001]

i think that's the Corona virus kicking in ...

[@matthewhopkins825]

Who’s gonna win? Who’s gonna lose? Hey guys.

[@N93000]

I give it 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿bags of popcorn and 🐲 for any hobbitheads out there will love this talking dragon.

[@svenusling]

Yep. Agreed.

[@davidmurphy8364]

Haha the Interview Mark quoted is from RDJ on the Joe Rogan podcast

[@craigcharlesworth1538]

Doolittle is not a particularly well known or loved property,and turning it into a huge, expensive blockbuster as the Harrison and RDJ versions do is a bizarre approach. The Murphy films were the only ones to turn a profit because they were mid-budget comedies which is what this should have been.

[@Hopium500]

Nothing can be as bad as Charlie hunham's accent in green street hooligans.

[@davidthomson9747]

Obama Bin laden Yeah that was horrific

[@harrybrydon201]

What was wrong with Dafoe’s accent in The Lighthouse?

[@oldfool666]

Welcome back Classic Mark and his rants haha!!

[@truthteller4689]

Does it have a push-me-pull-you.

[@evansn79]

If no one had told me I'd never have guessed that rdj was doing a Welsh accent. That's genuinely embarrassing.

[@alanpennie8013]

Can we have him zapped by an alien, like Welshy in Futurama's Star Trek?

[@robynrichmond0]

Genuine question: who was asking for another Dolittle movie?

[@alanpennie8013]

Ikr. Though Mark did say the Eddie Murphy movies had made money so maybe that encouraged them.

[@alanpennie8013]

The first Eddie Murphy movie was very successful, the second fairly successful. And there were 2 Murphy - less dvd sequels about Doolittle's daughter.

[@jamstonjulian6947]

@@alanpennie8013 Obviously they didn't understand those movies were carried by Eddie Murphy's star power, not the concept of talking animals.

[@alanpennie8013]

@@jamstonjulian6947 Indeed. Every other movie has talking animals in it. You need something more than that.

[@fredfat1606]

tried to watch dolittle - kermode is spot on - maybe they should put it in a double bill with cats

[@stoopid79]

With Marks review in mind 😂I meant to watch this over Christmas in the inbittwixmas bit I forgot, saw it the other day after five mins had to put on the subtitles bc I just as well could have been watch ping a film in Flemish,I don’t have any enemies but if I did I just wouldn’t have the❤to punish them like this… A wholly accurate review and I HAD forgotten the dragon flatulance …. My sole reason for 😮watching this was the polorbear in a hat and wondering if would laugh once I did but sadly only once 👏👏👏😳

[@ostpies]

I listened to this review twice and feel that I got much more enjoyment out of doing that than watching the film in question.

[@eivom1]

From the trailers RDJ sounded like Petyr Baelish from GOT

[@alanpennie8013]

Somewhere in the middle of the Irish Sea then.

[@kurtdewittphoto]

I'm disappointed he didn't say what I thought he was going to say at the end "It is shhhhhhhhh...."

[@MrUser10001]

Mark you said that this movie was not funny, but hearing RDJ's accent throughout the movie I had a smile on my face.

[@Puritan1985]

what movie does he compare it to, bate?

[@MartynDavies]

It would take a lot to beat Jude Law's Australian accent in Contagion, but I'm looking forward to RDJ's Welsh

[@PassportToPimlico]

There is probably enough in Hugh Lofting's original source material to have a decent punt at making a good movie.

[@davidedwards8365]

“Marion Cotillard plays a fox” Least surprising voice casting of all time. I’m sure her agent was actually pushing her to play a gorilla 😂

[@NxDoyle]

When I saw the trailer for Dolittle, which seems like six months ago but Ford vs Ferrari has taught me that certain movies are inconvenient blips in the middle of marketing campaigns, I thought it looked and sounded horrible. The best I can say is that it's obvious, even from the trailer, that Downey was _aiming_ for a Welsh accent. Why, I don't know. Perhaps he was intent on distancing himself from his Sherlock Holmes accent. Surely there were other choices more suited to his abilities.

[@cunkmusic8748]

Anybody watch whitehouse farm on TV... Stephen Graham attempted a Welsh accent in that. It wasn't until the fourth episode I realised he WASN'T doing a Pakistani accent... 😁

[@Harlock2day]

Well, those who watch it dubbed will be spared the whole welsh debate. Sadly not the rest. I have to say I wasn’t remotely planning to see this and now I am slightly curious to see how bad it is.

[@alanpennie8013]

Wait six months and watch it on Netflix?

[@kwang-kv8bv]

6:55 I thought he was going to say something else there

[@TheCaptScarlett]

The "funniest" gag in the film is when RDJ says "Wales boyo, Wales" (or is it whales?) Luckily I slept through around half of it

[@motorheadschwaby8087]

Just got back from the cinema, I slept through half of it too.

[@TheCaptScarlett]

@@motorheadschwaby8087 went to see The Gentleman the week before. Given I had dozed through Avengers Endgame and Rise of Skywalker, I wasn't hopeful at a 2100 screening. Transfixed the entire film! Everything else is now measured by this benchmark.

[@motorheadschwaby8087]

@@TheCaptScarlett cheers for that. Normally sleepy by this time if day but fresh as a daisy now. Super little nap.

[@brynroberts9880]

I bet RDJ's accent is better than Stephen Graham's in White House Farm on ITV.

[@peterd788]

Michael Sheen, a Welshman, must have been appalled.

[@Luvie1980]

No need for this film.

[@alanpennie8013]

All the Doolittle movies have been terrible. Though I remember enjoying the cartoon series back when I was a child. Even that didn't get a second season so presumably it wasn't considered a success. If I could talk to The Animals, comes across like Cole Porter on a bad day.

[@styxcreek]

RJD did a pretty good Aussie accent in Tropic Thunder

[@cobieeliseforshaw8162]

Mark's Welsh sounds like The Arm from Twin Peaks.

[@johnstreet8240]

Micheal Sheen has a good english accent in the film.

[@jimmygoodman7995]

Shame this got a longer review than parasite

[@ataru4]

I wish actors wouldn't attempt Welsh, Irish or Scottish if they're not from those respective countries and the character doesn't need to have that accent. It really takes me out of a movie cos it's like nails on a chalkboard. The history of Hollywood's attempted Celtic accents ranges from absolutely terrible to not very good.

[@monomakes]

That, my friends, is what is known as a 'Kermodian Rant'!

[@Detector2002]

DoesLittle entertaining.

[@michellewidjaja4779]

I watch Kermode to improve my adjective.

[@johnhart7704]

Missed read the title and thought Mark was reviewing Dolomite .

[@stevieh9860]

Jon Cole was a respected Irish political commentator in the 80s. Marks impression of RJD being Welsh sounds exactly like a spitting image parody of him. Is this, and Sonic the worst two films of the year already! ?They have certainly hit the ground running , it’s only February.

[@bengejuknowit3048]

& I am..............Doolittle! SNAP!

[@jamesmerrill8853]

Want a second opinion-Here's my review of the movie below! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKvap6CEe5yGnqs

[@egleeson]

Yer Man!

[@jam-trousers]

I dunno why but I love Mark’s bad reviews

[@andrewlawless9796]

"could work" haha

[@mildroastnescafe2]

So he liked it then?

[@jackashworth3956]

A passable welsh accent from the good doctor there i thought. itd be kinda funny if Downey Jnr went from Mr Marvel Cinematic Universe to unbankable in less than 18 months wouldnt it

[@EmoBearRights]

Maybe Michael Sheen refused to act with Downey Jr doing that accent and how can blame him?

[@tomhenry8556]

Sooo, reading between the lines... I think he liked it?

[@mathieuleader8601]

this movie did very little for Mark

[@goodial]

it id a lot for Mark, just nothing positive ;)

[@TomMannCenturia]

RDJ channeling his inner Troy Maclure. No, I don't want to do a sequel I want to do my The Contrabulous Fabtraption of Professor Horatio Hufnagel

[@neil_down_south]

Parasite and Doolittle reviewed on same day. Candidates for best and worst films of the new decade?

[@jamstonjulian6947]

Oh, I'm sure there's much worse to come

[@Blackhawk211]

Parasite was a 2019 film lmao

[@neil_down_south]

@@Blackhawk211 reviewed since Kermode last did best films of the decade. So it qualifies. Lmfao.

[@benshorthouse2979]

good one ahaha

[@darwincity]

And then the pandemic came and it, somehow, had many international markets all for itself so as to make enough money to break-even.

[@JFBridge]

Michael Sheen would have made a better Doolittle, and PS, he is Welsh!

[@Jamesp1972]

Mark's not actually right, the accent's pretty good (for a Yank), it just feels v misplaced here, and the film seems thrown together with v little soul but looks great.

[@jamesfurfaro455]

Sooo, he didn't like it?

[@CaminoAir]

It's a bizarre idea remaking what was a notorious financial failure and a troubled production.

[@philipparker7863]

Something positive to say....erm….hold on.....ah, it gave people behind the camera, with families to feed, jobs. Just don't put it on your CV.

[@peteradaniel]

At 175 million I question what they fed their families on? Foie Gras? caviar?

[@rwc20071]

RDJ sucks outside Ironman

[@mathieuleader8601]

terribly miscast why not have Sheen as Dolittle

[@luckyspurs]

Even that Robert Downey Jr advert for it on Sky, was awful.

[@jagdpanther1944]

The accent sounds more like Mummerset to me

[@kimwexler9393]

Who's going to break the news to RDJ that he's not as good as he thinks he is?

[@jamesfurfaro455]

No one. Cause he truly is. No actor is immune to bad performances, i mean, maybe Daniel Day Lewis, but that's cause he does like one film every 7 years.

[@jaymonkey699]

How do you fell when you know you've made a dogs dinner of it and everyone will know! The most awkward movie i have ever seen.