The Remake of Doctor Doolittle is better known than the original. But despite the fact what you think of the Eddie Murphy staring vehicle (I kinda liked it), this is the original. And almost every time the original is better than the remake! (there are of course exception of the rule, see Ocean's 11 for instance).
But Rex Harrison is a great actor and even with animals as partners he's on top form here. The story isn't that easy to follow or better said, you're not sure where this is going. Does it have a goal or is it aimlessly drifting along? Of course it does have one, but it's difficult to spot. I enjoyed it, but it's just not everyones taste!
Edit: I finally figured out, why it seemed a bit off. Because it actually was more than "a bit off". The making of this movie is far more interesting than the end result we can watch. There was a "back story" on this movie in the magazine Empire. It shed quite some light on the difficulties the makers were confronted by, while making this movie. Rex Harrison was one of those "problems". It's too long a story to list here, but search for it and you will be amazed ... or utterly disappointed
But Rex Harrison is a great actor and even with animals as partners he's on top form here. The story isn't that easy to follow or better said, you're not sure where this is going. Does it have a goal or is it aimlessly drifting along? Of course it does have one, but it's difficult to spot. I enjoyed it, but it's just not everyones taste!
Edit: I finally figured out, why it seemed a bit off. Because it actually was more than "a bit off". The making of this movie is far more interesting than the end result we can watch. There was a "back story" on this movie in the magazine Empire. It shed quite some light on the difficulties the makers were confronted by, while making this movie. Rex Harrison was one of those "problems". It's too long a story to list here, but search for it and you will be amazed ... or utterly disappointed