Little Miss Dolittle
Liliane Susewind - Ein tierisches Abenteuer
Detailed parental analysis
Miss Dolittle is a light and cheerful family comedy, carried along by unashamed physical humour and a good-natured atmosphere. The plot follows a young girl blessed with the gift of communicating with animals, who finds herself swept up in absurd adventures to help them. The film is clearly aimed at young children, between 5 and 8 years old, with no particular ambition beyond immediate entertainment.
Underlying Values
The film builds its central message around acceptance of difference and the value of originality. The protagonist is an outsider whose misunderstood gift becomes a strength, and the narrative explicitly rewards embracing what sets you apart from others. This message is sincere and consistent throughout the story, even if it is delivered without great subtlety. Friendship between marginalised characters is presented as a precious resource, which offers a concrete foundation for discussing with a child what they experience at school or within their peer group.
Social Themes
Animal welfare forms a genuine thread through the narrative, not merely a backdrop. Animals are presented as vulnerable beings deserving attention and respect, and several scenes feature concrete acts of care or defence towards them. This is an accessible educational angle for young children, which can naturally extend into a conversation about their relationship with domestic or wild animals.
Strengths
The film honestly fulfils its function as entertainment for very young children: it is well-paced, visually clear and emotionally accessible. The scatological humour, which is omnipresent, is calibrated to make a 6-year-old laugh without ever becoming aggressive or malicious. The message about difference, whilst formulated without particular finesse, is delivered with consistency and kindness, which gives it real narrative coherence. This is not a film that will leave a lasting impression, but it accomplishes what it promises.
Age recommendation and discussion points
The film is suitable from 5 or 6 years old, without major reservations for this age group. Two angles of discussion are worth pursuing after viewing: ask the child what makes the protagonist different from others and whether this difference is an advantage or a burden, and ask them how they think animals in need of help should be treated.
Synopsis
An eleven year old girl can talk to animals. When a thief causes trouble in the local zoo, she comes to the rescue.
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2018
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Countries
- Germany
- Original language
- DE
- Directed by
- Joachim Masannek
- Main cast
- Malu Leicher, Christoph Maria Herbst, Tom Beck, Aylin Tezel, Meret Becker, Peri Baumeister, Aaron Kissiov, Yoran Leicher, Felice Ahrens
- Studios
- Dreamtool Entertainment
Content barometer
- Violence0/5None
- Fear0/5None
- Sexuality0/5None
- Language0/5None
- Narrative complexity2/5Moderate
- Adult themes0/5None
Values conveyed
- Friendship
- Acceptance of difference
- Compassion
- Autonomy
- courage
- empathy
- teamwork