WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Dr. Dolittle
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Eddie Murphy, Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, Peter Boyle, Richard Schiff, Kristen Wilson, Jeffrey Tambor, Kyla Pratt

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating:
Sound Rating:
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 0276285
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 85
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date): 12/98
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Betty Thomas
(Screenplay/Written By): Nat Mauldin & Larry Levin
(Story): NA
(Music): Richard Gibbs
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): William Elliott
(Visual Effects): Visionart
(Costume Designer): NA
(Editor): Peter Teschner
(Supervising Sound Editors): Michael J. Benavente, MPSE; John A. Larsen
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Sue Baden-Powell & Jenno Topping
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): John Davis, Joseph M. Singer & David T. Friendly

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.82:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital Surround
(Theatrical Sound): DTS & Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Dr. Dolittle, starring Eddie Murphy, is an updated concept based on the delightful stories by Hugh Lofting. An uptight father and successful doctor, John Dolittle has suppressed his amazing ability to communicate with animals for many years. After a minor car accident this gift is re-awakened, and animals begin flocking to him for medical assistance and at the same time teach him a little about being human. Lots of bathroom humor and sexual innuendos give the movie its PG13 rating. Fans of the 1967 Rex Harrison version be aware, there are no gentle animals or delightful songs in this comic treatment.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture, matted at 1.82:1, is absolutely breathtaking in image quality, exhibiting superb color resolution with natural fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, solid blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with excellent fine detail and texture. Contrast and shadow delineation are naturally rendered, with excellent visual information apparent in the darkest scenes. The picture is solid throughout with only occasional artifacts, but nothing to distract.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital 5.0 discrete soundtrack is dramatically different than the matrix Dolby Surround PCM soundtrack. Overall fullness is lacking on the discrete version, as is bass richness. The Dolby Digital soundtrack often lacks a surround signal or is at such a low level as not to be effective. On the matrix version, there is substantial bass energy in the surround channel which is either subtle or aggressive in presence when there is no corresponding surround presence on the discrete version. The Dolby Digital version has no .1 LFE signal. Dialogue, however, is nicely articulated on the discrete version compared to the more robust character of the matrix version. Music sounds terrific on the discrete version with superb soundstage presence, as well as directional effects and animal dialogue. While the Dolby Digital version sounds better articulated with a wide soundstage, the matrix PCM version is more spatially dimensional.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Yes
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition:
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison: