Dr Dolittle 3

Plot

Maya has evolved considerably from the first film. Though she was then an antisocial individual more interested in her science projects, Maya has transformed into the typical teenager. Like her sister Charisse, she inherits their father John's capacity for communicating with fauna (she is a part-time veterinary assistant), her life is turned upside down on all fronts. She routinely lands in trouble with her parents, while her friends think she's gone crazy.

With John away on animal expeditions, Maya's mother Lisa sends her (with Lucky following along) to a ranch named "Durango", so she can find herself. The ranch is owned by Jud (John Amos), and his son Bo (Walker Howard). While there, Maya, who desperately tried to keep it under wraps so as not to arouse suspicion, uses her talent to "talk to the animals" in order to save Durango from being taken over by a neighboring ranch.

Maya is at first reluctant to reveal her ability, 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.

Cast

Kyla Pratt as Maya Dolittle

Chelan Simmons as Vivica

Kristen Wilson as Lisa Dolittle

John Amos as Jud

Walker Howard as Bo

Ecstasia Sanders as Tammy

Calum Worthy as Tyler

Luciana Carro as Brooklyn

Dove Cameron as Khmer

Norm Macdonald as Lucky

Danny Bonaduce as Ranch Steer

Gary Busey as Butch

Melanie Chartoff as Black & White Hen

Paulo Costanzo as Cogburn the Rooster

Chris Edgerly as Diamond the Horse, LP the Horse, Pig, Rattlesnake

Eli Gabay as Rodeo Bull, Rodeo Steer

Vanessa Marshall as Tan Hen, White Hen

Mark Moseley as Harry the Hawk, Patches the Horse, Ranch Steer, Rodeo Longhorns, Silver the Horse

Jenna von Oÿ as Gracie

Philip Proctor as Drunk Monkey, Stray Dog

Susan Silo as Mary the Goat

Maggie Wheeler as Brown Hen, Fluffy Hen

Releases

This film was released direct-to-video in 2006; on April 25 for Region 1 and May 1 for Region 2.

Reception

Although a relative success in sales, the film was a not well received by critics.

Of the two reviews given at Rotten Tomatoes, both were very negative: one critic, Scott Weinberg, said "Cheap-looking, atrociously written, and delivered with all the energy of a breach-birth bovine, Dr. Dolittle 3 is all kinds of terrible." David Cornelius of efilmcritic.com described the film as "not so much poorly made as it is lazy and cheap."