The movie Doctor Dolittle is a 1998 American fantasy comedy film directed by Betty Thomas and starring Eddie Murphy in the title role. The film is based on the character Doctor Dolittle created by Hugh Lofting and was a modern adaptation of his stories.
In the movie, John Dolittle is a successful physician who lives with his wife Lisa and two daughters. He seems to be living the perfect life until he starts to hear animals talking to him. Initially, he thinks he might be losing his mind, but soon he realizes that he has a special ability to talk to animals.
The news of Dolittle's ability spreads quickly through the animal kingdom, and soon he is inundated with animals seeking his help. A wise-cracking parrot named Polynesia becomes his closest advisor, and a dog named Lucky becomes his faithful follower. Dolittle becomes inundated with all the animals and starts to neglect his human patients, leading to trouble at work.
As Dolittle becomes more immersed in the world of animals, he becomes more estranged from his family. His wife Lisa becomes increasingly frustrated with his behavior and starts to question whether they have a future together.
In the climactic scene of the movie, Dolittle has to save a circus tiger by operating on him, while facing the challenge of having to balance his responsibilities to both the animal and human worlds. After successfully completing the surgery, Dolittle realizes that he has to find a way to balance his newfound gifts and responsibilities with his professional and personal life.
Doctor Dolittle was a major box office success, grossing over $294 million worldwide. It spawned several sequels and became one of Eddie Murphy's most successful films.