Robert Downey Jr. Has Some Alternative Phrases For His Greatest Field Workplace Flop

Stephen Gaghan’s 2020 movie “Dolittle,” based mostly on Hugh Lofting’s “Physician Dolittle” novels printed within the Twenties and Thirties, was notable in that it was Robert Downey Jr.’s first main appearing job in 5 years that wasn’t a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Downey’s 5 earlier credit had been for Avengers films, whereby he performed the inimitable Iron Man. The MCU, in addition to Man Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes” films, made Downey a rich worldwide famous person and a well known family title. His 2010s fame, nonetheless, did not appear to result in different notable appearing gigs. In 2009, Downey appeared in “The Soloist,” and 2010 noticed the discharge of the street comedy “Due Date,” however neither of these had been enormous smashes. Downey starred in and produced “The Choose” in 2014, however that movie attracted extra consideration for his co-star Robert Duvall than for his personal efficiency. 

In 2020, when “Dolittle” was launched, it appeared to many who Downey was adrift. “Dolittle,” a movie about an eccentric Welsh physician who can talk with animals, was a large bomb when it got here out, and it was critically panned. Though it made $251 million worldwide, “Dolittle” price practically $200 million to make, which makes it an official bomb. It additionally solely has a 15% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes, based mostly on 241 critiques. Virtually nobody preferred the film. 

Additionally, Downey’s efficiency was … off. He affected a deep, growly, Welsh accent, and it was practically unimaginable to grasp him. He turned Dr. Dolittle from a bright-eyed eccentric right into a glowering weirdo. Not a very good observe for a youngsters’s film. 

In 2023, earlier than Downey obtained an Oscar for his efficiency in “Oppenheimer,” he talked to New York Instances Journal about his post-Marvel malaise, and he admitted that “Dolittle” was a misstep.

In that interview, Downey referred to “Dolittle” as “a two-and-a-half-year wound of squandered alternative.”

It must be recalled that Iron Man perished on the finish of the ultra-blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019, and it marked the tip of a really lengthy contract Downey had with Marvel. As soon as he was freed from Iron Man, Hollywood opened as much as him, and he may lastly tackle no matter new blockbuster initiatives he needed. He and his workforce of brokers and publicity folks felt {that a} new adaptation of the Dr. Dolittle books was an ideal concept, though Downey admitted to just a little hesitancy. He mentioned: 

“I completed the Marvel contract after which rapidly went into what had all of the promise of being one other massive, enjoyable, well-executed potential franchise in ‘Dolittle.’ I had some reservations. Me and my workforce appeared just a little too excited in regards to the deal and never fairly excited sufficient in regards to the deserves of the execution. However at that time I used to be bulletproof. I used to be the guru of all style films.” 

Downey was diplomatic about “Dolittle,” although, noting that it taught him an necessary lesson. He likened it to his 2006 remake of “The Shaggy Canine,” a movie that proved that he, only some years sober on the time, may nonetheless be insured by an enormous firm like Disney, its distributor. Downey mentioned that “Dolittle” was such a battle to make, and such a crucial failure on its launch, that it pressured him to be extra considerate about his selections and to be extra cautious in regards to the high quality of the movies he stars in. To cite: 

“‘Dolittle was a two-and-a-half-year wound of squandered alternative. The stress it placed on my missus as she rolled her sleeves as much as her armpits to make it even serviceable sufficient to convey to market was stunning. After that time — what’s that phrase? By no means let a very good disaster go to waste? — we had this reset of priorities and made some adjustments in who our closest enterprise advisers had been.”

“The missus” refers to Downey’s spouse, Susan Downey, a prolific producer and handler of most of Downey’s movies. 

Downey additionally admitted that he used the manufacturing of “Dolittle” as a remedy device. Downey’s father, the celebrated filmmaker behind “Putney Swope,” “Greaser’s Palace,” and a dozen others, was ailing with Parkinson’s illness. Downey Jr. liked his father, and admitted to utilizing a serious Hollywood image to distract himself. He mentioned: 

“[T]hat entire time, my dad was passing away, and as an avoidance mechanism, I made a decision to ship crews over and get his ideas on his winter years, and that become ‘Sr.,’ most likely crucial factor I’ll ever do, which was having the ability to change into half object and topic inside a bit of ‘content material.’ Which is what it was however to me was significant.” 

Chris Smith directed the Robert Downey Sr. documentary “Sr.” in 2022, and the movie was launched on Netflix. It not solely captures footage of the daddy and son speaking, however will get opinions from well-known actors who labored with the director. That mission, it appears, was extra necessary to Downey than a foolish, FX-heavy speaking animal journey. 

Then, Downey mentioned, he obtained a name from Christopher Nolan about showing in “Oppenheimer,” and Downey was as soon as once more part of one of many largest movies of the 12 months. Solely this time, it was a heady, talky biopic, not a superhero epic. “Dolittle” apparently taught him to make private films that had been necessary to him, or to tackle difficult dramatic roles that showcase his skills. As a result of “Dolittle” tanked, it is unlikely we’ll see every other blockbuster bonanzas from Downey any time quickly. 

Then once more, perhaps we are going to. Downey has re-entered the Marvel world, agreeing to play the supervillain Physician Doom in a number of upcoming films. Let’s simply hope none of them grow to be one other “Dolittle”-sized debacle.