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| Dr. Dolittle 3 | |
|---|---|
 Official DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Rich Thorne |
| Written by | Nina Colman |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | John Davis |
| Starring | Kyla Pratt Kristen Wilson John Amos |
| Cinematography | Eric J. Goldstein |
| Edited by | Tony Lombardo |
| Music by | Christopher Lennertz |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Dr. Dolittle 3 is a 2006 American direct-to-videofantasycomedy film and the third film in theDr. Dolittle series. It starsKyla Pratt, reprising her role from the previous installments, as Maya Dolittle. Returning alongside Pratt areKristen Wilson as Lisa Dolittle andNorm Macdonald as the voice of Lucky the Dog.
This is the first film not to featureEddie Murphy asDr. John Dolittle norRaven-Symoné as Charisse Dolittle, although they are mentioned in the film. 17 years later, it was revealed in a 2023 interview that the reason they did not return was because Murphy was too uncomfortable playing the father of a grown adult daughter.[1]
Maya Dolittle has evolved considerably from an anti-social individual who was more interested in her science projects into a typical teenager. Like her sister Charisse, she inherits their fatherJohn's capacity for communicating with animals (she is a part-time veterinary assistant) and her life has changed drastically on all fronts. She often ends up in trouble with her parents, while her friends think she has gone insane.
With John away on business, Maya's mother Lisa sends her and her dog Lucky to Durangodude ranch so she can find herself. The ranch is owned by Jud Jones, and his son Bo. While at the ranch, Maya, who desperately tried to keep her talent under wraps so as not to arouse suspicion, uses it to "talk to the animals" in order to save Durango from being taken over by a neighboring dude ranch.
Maya is at first reluctant to show her ability to others, fearing rejection from her friends, but eventually does so. With her help, the Durango ranch enters a rodeo competition with a $50,000 award, and wins it. Also, she shares her first kiss with Bo and finally wins his heart.
The film was shot inBritish Columbia, Canada.
This film was releaseddirect-to-video in 2006; on April 25 forRegion 1 and May 1 forRegion 2.[2]
Of the three reviews atRotten Tomatoes, two are negative.[3] Scott Weinberg ofDVD Talk gave the film 1.5 out of 5, writing, "Cheap-looking, atrociously written, and delivered with all the energy of a breach-birth bovine,Dr. Dolittle 3 is all kinds of terrible".[2] Emily Ashby ofCommon Sense Media was positive to the film. She gave the film 4 out of 5, writing, "Positive messages throughout tween-friendly animal comedy".[4]