A skilled physician, Dr. John Dolittle has long supressed a very special talent he possessed as a child: the ability to communicate with animals. Forgotten are his childhood memories of counsel...

A skilled physician, Dr. John Dolittle has long supressed a very special talent he possessed as a child: the ability to communicate with animals. Forgotten are his childhood memories of counsel with his four-legged friend until a near accident awakens his long dormant talents. Now owls, horses, guinea pigs, and anything that could claim a spot in the animal kingdom seek his medical advice. Dolittle's confusion, his colleague's terror and his family's concern are all alleviated as a healthy dose of animal behavior reminds him what it means to be human. Dolittle struggles with both his new talent and with relating with his family. He doesn't seem to appreciate his brilliant young daughter Maya Dolittle and also has trouble in his marriage. As he begins talking to animals, he finds them at times both friendly/helpful and a real pain. Rodney the guinea pig cracks jokes at him, Lucky the dog seems to revere him and he finds himself caught in a promise to save the life of circus tiger.