RDJ is Doctor Dolittle

[Monsieur Xavier]

So, it will do little at the BO ...zing

 

[scarlet-witch]

Doolittle and Cats are going to have a bad movie showdown going by these reviews.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Doolittle and Cats are going to have a bad movie showdown going by these reviews.

Both directed by Oscar winners. But then Robert Altman made Popeye so it happens.

 

[mclay18]

He said he was done with indie films a few years back. Remember, his father also made them so he’s been around it his whole life.

Robert Downey Jr: independent movies are 'exhausting and sometimes suck'

I would imagine a big tent pole like Avengers would be grueling. With indies nowadays, it’s a quick and lean shoot.

I wish RDJ would reconsider it. He no longer needs the money, would like to see him play a more challenging role. Maybe he feels he’s paid his dues with indies, which is a shame.

 

[-JKR-]

It's not like indies are the only place for meaty roles.

Three out of four best picture nominees this year are major studio productions.

One is a DreamWorks production. Which is somewhere in between, I guess.

 

[sueb1863]

If Rex Harrison were still around, he could have advised RDJ against doing the part. Harrison HATED filming the 1967 version.

 

[mclay18]

It's not like indies are the only place for meaty roles.

Three out of four best picture nominees this year are major studio productions.

One is a DreamWorks production. Which is somewhere in between, I guess.

True but indies generally allow for more creative freedom for the director and actors. Unless you're a big proven director, major studio productions have a line that they have to adhere to.

 

[SomeOldGuy]

Damage control mode activated, all UK critics screening cancelled lol.

 

[Micromind]

UK Critics can be very harsh.

 

[SomeOldGuy]

Less than $1 million in previews...ouch. It did get a solid 4.5 from parents/kids tho, so that might help it a bit. Deadline:

Universal’s Dolittle previews began at 5PM yesterday with a very low $925K at 3,050 theaters. Pic expands to 4,155 locations today. The $175M production is expected to bomb this weekend with a $24M-$28M take. Exits for the Robert Downey Jr. were better among families who turned out at 43% on PostTrak with 4 1/2 stars from parents (17%) and 4 1/2 stars from kids under 12 (26%). General audiences at 57% stuck their tongues out at the taking animal movie giving it 2 1/2 stars.

 

[terry78]

Well he's already got his paycheck.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Considering it’s through his production company with his wife as producer, I’m sure he cares more than just a pay check.

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

I see "**** you. It's January!" Is in full swing.

 

[Web-Head]

Universal Tries to Escape Disaster by Patching Up ‘Dolittle’

 

[KaijuDude1992]

It honestly sucks hearing that this turned out to be such a disaster. Love RDJ and hopefully Sherlock Holmes 3 and that John Brinkley Biopic go a lot better for him, but this never looked good from the beginning IMO. I doubt this movie's failure will hurt him all that much considering the massive paychecks he's been getting from Marvel all these years, but a part of me also wishes he would just take a break from doing all these big franchise movies and focus on smaller stuff. All-Star Weekend sounds like it could be a lot of fun and the cast is excellent, but it seems like no one even knows when its coming out.

 

[Web-Head]

It honestly sucks hearing that this turned out to be such a disaster. Love RDJ and hopefully Sherlock Holmes 3 and that John Brinkley Biopic go a lot better for him, but this never looked good from the beginning IMO. I doubt this movie's failure will hurt him all that much considering the massive paychecks he's been getting from Marvel all these years, but a part of me also wishes he would just take a break from doing all these big franchise movies and focus on smaller stuff. All-Star Weekend sounds like it could be a lot of fun and the cast is excellent, but it seems like no one even knows when its coming out.

It does sound pretty interesting, but it sounds like it was filmed what, 3 years ago? I agree though, I do think RDJ would be wise to do a smaller indie film with a great director.

 

[terry78]

Went ahead and caught this during lunch since it's so short. It's not terrible but it's basically like a 90s Disney animated flick in that all the sidekicks are voiced by popular actors and they speak in anachronisms non stop. I **** you not, an octopus says the phrase "snitches get stitches."

 

[SomeOldGuy]

Variety’s early read is that it’s headed for about $30 million including Monday, which given the brutal reviews is better than I expected.

 

[Gold Samurai]

Universal Tries to Escape Disaster by Patching Up ‘Dolittle’

Non Wall Street version

Universal’s path to profitability is further complicated by the fact that Mr. Downey is set to receive a share of the film’s box-office revenues, in addition to a $20 million salary, according to a person familiar with the deal. Now rare, such sweetheart deals were once regularly awarded to Hollywood’s top stars, allowing them to receive a chunk of ticket sales even before the studio recouped all its costs. At least two other Hollywood studios balked at producing “Dolittle,” concerned the project was too costly, people familiar with the matter said.

I guess he takes all of this weekends profits lol

(not really) I bet it's like $2 million after it's completed its run in theaters.

 

[Schlosser85]

.......they added that scene to try to make the movie do better?

 

[Web-Head]

Variety’s early read is that it’s headed for about $30 million including Monday, which given the brutal reviews is better than I expected.

There really isn't much else out for the whole family to see now, so I can kind of see it. Most have already seen Frozen 2 and Spies in Disguise isn't doing that well at the box office either.

 

[terry78]

That is like a classic Simpsons joke, adding fart humor to a movie to make more money.

 

[Gold Samurai]

*Robert thinking*
Uh maybe it wasn't such a good idea to leave the MCU

lol

"Iron Man 4" is looking PRETTY enticing right about now" haha

In all seriousness, he's probably set for life. We all joked when we'd imagine truck loads of cash rolling up to his house everytime he did an MCU movie.

 

[kguillou]

RDJ doesnt have to work another day in his life. Hes fine. He could just retire now if he wants to. But career wise, as an actor whose likely looking to spread his creative wings...yeesh, looking pretty dicey.

 

[Drizzle]

I certainly wouldn't want Downey to retire. I miss seeing him in roles where he isn't playing Tony Stark. I'd love for him to do something R-rated again like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang or Tropic Thunder where he can stretch his comedy legs. The only time he really did that in the 2010s was Due Date and you all probably forgot that movie existed until I brought it up just now.