The Universal Pictures movie Dolittle is perfect for a movie night with family. 

This movie is not something I would typically choose to watch on my own. Not out of fear that the film may be frightening but because it’s just not on the top of my list of movies to watch. I would go for the classic teen romance movies on Netflix or choose to watch Hamilton, but I didn’t feel those were the best choices since my siblings are both younger than me. 

With my whole family selecting a movie that I wasn’t actually interested in, I was moody about it, yet when the beginning scene came on, my eyes were drawn to the screen.  

Dolittle takes place in the 19th century in England behind a mysterious grass-covered stone gate. The main character, Doctor Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), communicates with the many animals that surround the entrance to his home. Dolittle himself is also isolated within the gate, feeling dreadful and dejected due to the loss of his wife. Due to this tragic occurrence, the citizens of the fictional town Puddleby-on-the-Marsh are now pessimistic, for their animals can no longer be assisted by the doctor hidden within the walls. 

Two curious kids come to find Dolittle’s house, a hidden treasure. One of them has crucial information. A girl, Lady Rose (Carmel Laniado), explains that Dolittle must arrive at the palace where the queen lies sick in her bed. 

Queen Victoria (Jessie Buckley) is examined and requires an unusual antidote that can only be found on a mysterious island, so Dolittle, Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett), and their animal friends set to sea on an exhilarating journey to find the mysterious remedy: the Eden Tree. 

The journey is a thrilling ride; many unfavorable events occur before Dolittle and his animal crew’s eyes. A peculiar warship emerges in the distance of an intense thunderstorm. Cannons burst from the warship, and the animals scatter. Somehow, Dolittle uses his communication skills to escape the situation.  

More and more occurrences like this happen throughout the wide-spread journey. The longer the film trails on, the more thrill and excitement there is. The countless cliff-hanger events kept me on the edge of my seat, or rather on the edge of my couch. Through all of the action, the film leads to an unexpected ending.  

After watching the film Dolittle, I was pleased with my family’s pick. For a movie that is not “my style,” I actually enjoyed it. I am known to use my phone all the time, but by watching Dolittle, my eyes were kept off of the small screen and tuned into the big screen. The intention to text and be on social media was gone—probably because of all the action right before my eyes. 

Family movie night wasn’t as disastrous as I presumed it would be. Coming out of that “comfort zone” made me slightly less fearful to try it again. Surprisingly, maybe I am wrong about myself as a movie watcher. It seems that thrilling, adventurous, children’s films could be where I stand, and Dolittle proved that.