The 4 Things to Know Before Taking Your Kids to See Dolittle
What do you get when you cross Robert Downey Jr. with a mix of playful, hilarious animals who go on an adventure? Universal Pictures' latest just-for-kids flick, Dolittle. Chock-full of voiceovers from well-known actors like Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, Octavia Spencer, and Craig Robinson, the movie follows the life of Dr. John Dolittle, who has to go on an adventure to save the queen of England from a mysterious illness.
Filled with humor, important life lessons, and a handful of touching moments, we have a feeling that the film will become a favorite in your household. Scroll ahead to learn a few things you should know before taking your squad to see Dolittle when it hits theaters Jan. 17 (and for a couple of things they'll learn as they watch!).
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The movie definitely starts off a little dark.
Given the fact that this is a kids' movie, nothing gets too sinister; however, we learn right off the bat that Dr. Dolittle has been depressed ever since his wife, Lily, disappeared at sea many years ago. While there's nothing graphic, it's clear that Dr. Dolittle has not been taking care of himself for some time, which could lead to a few questions from your brood.
Additionally, the first time we meet Tommy Stubbins is when he accidentally shoots a squirrel named Kevin out of a tree. There's no blood or gore, but we do see Kevin in a whole lot of pain for the first few minutes, which could be upsetting to some kids!
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There are a few scary parts throughout the film.
While there's nothing *that* nightmare-inducing, there's a pretty scary-looking villain named King Rassouli (Antonio Banderas) who might make your little ones squirm at first! Naturally, things work out for Dolittle and his motley crew in the end, but there are a few hairy situations toward the end of the film that could be stressful for anxious kiddos.
There's also a scene in which Dr. Dolittle gets attacked by a tiger and a dragon — it's high-energy and chock-full of fire-breathing moments, so if your kids get unnerved by similar types of action normally, beware!
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Your kids will learn it's OK to push back on adults sometimes — in a good way.
Determined to foster his passion for animals, Dolittle's apprentice, Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett) doesn't take no for an answer when Dr. Dolittle refuses to give him an apprenticeship at first. Rather than sulking, Tommy turns to his other resources — aka Dolittle's gaggle of exotic pets — and eventually scores his dream position. Eventually, through a lot of hard work and practice, Tommy learns to talk to animals just like his stubborn mentor.
Although we don't want to teach our kids to disrespect the people of authority in their lives, sometimes it's OK to push back, or at least, stand up for what you believe in. It might be worth bringing this concept up with your kids once you leave the theater, as identifying those types of moments in which it's OK to push back might not be totally clear for your little ones!
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Your kids will learn that thinking on your feet could be a great skill to possess.
Unlike your run-of-the-mill superhero movie, Dr. Dolittle's strategy isn't rooted in brawn. Rather, he approaches every problem with his head, whether it's out-running an enemy ship on the open sea or figuring out how to tame a cranky dragon. The point being, keeping a cool head and thinking through all your options can get you through some pretty sticky situations, a concept worth discussing with your little ones (especially those prone to losing it in stressful situations)!