As children's films go, Doctor Dolittle is a bit on the ridiculous side, clocking in at 2 1/2 hours long.

As one-joke movies go (veterinarian learns to talk to animals), Dolittle is... well, a bit on the ridiculous side, clocking in at 2 1/2 hours long.

The extremely patient will love Rex Harrison's quirky comic work here, and the man reportedly went to outrageous lengths to complete the film -- including being frequently bitten and urinated on. The lush sets and presentation are a big disconnect with the silly story, but that ultimately turns out to be part of the joy of the movie. Too bad the second half, in which Dolittle goes on a sea voyage in search of a giant sea snail, is such a disconnect from the much more fun first half.