In Dr. Dolittle 3, Maya Dolittle is finding it difficult to fit in with her peers. The 17-year-old wants to get on the popular crowd’s A-list in order to attend all the parties and social events. But Maya’s peers have begun noticing her peculiar habit of talking to animals in what seem to be conversations.

When a friend points this out to Maya (Kyla Pratt) one afternoon while driving, she insists it's the animals trying to talk with her and not the other way around. Either way, this Dolittle is becoming known as the freak who talks with animals. Maya should have kept her eyes on the road, for she ends up wrecking the front end of her car to avoid a dog who offers her a piece of his mind.

After Maya is invited to what should be the party of the year, her mother Lisa (Kristen Wilson) tells her she knows how hard it is to fit in and be an adolescent and that Maya has earned a night in. However, for a bone and a belly rub, Lucky the dog (voiced by Norm MacDonald) agrees to curl up in Maya's bed and wear a ridiculous wig so she can sneak out to the party. 

Maya happens to be a veterinarian’s assistant, and she's followed by a monkey who ruins her evening. Back home, she must deal with her mother. She blames everything on the monkey being there and animals talking to her. Lisa wants her daughter to have a complete break from her daily life by going to the Durango Ranch which she attended as a child. The last place Maya wants to be is where there are a ton of animals.

Lisa tells her daughter that she has a gift and needs to learn how to use it correctly. Maya’s father is a famous doctor (played by Eddie Murphy in the first two films) who helps animals by conversing with them as if they were humans. Maya wants her father’s opinion because she feels she's being punished for something she cannot control.

While Maya was out, Lisa spoke to the girl's father, who concurred with the mother's ideas. Maya finds herself having to board a bus to Durango Ranch in the morning. On the bus, she meets Brooklyn Webster (Luciana Carro), who has quite an attitude problem. From the windows of the bus, the two girls see a beautiful ranch. They soon learn Durango Ranch can be seen from the opposite side. It's a rundown and poorly kempt place.

Maya calls her mother, begging to be taken home, but nobody picks up the phone. Lucky hears this message and decides to go after Maya. He somehow arrives at the ranch on a pick- up truck, despite the fact that he doesn't have a thumb needed for hitchhiking.  

Maya thinks Bo (Walker Howard), son of ranch owner Jud (John Amos), is good looking -- but Brooklyn knows what she wants and informs Maya that's Bo. 

In six weeks, everyone is expected to be ready to ride in a rodeo competition. Maya doesn't want anyone to know she's a Dolittle, so she uses a fictitious surname. But Lucky has let Maya's real identity slip to a few animals. Of course, the last thing the girl wants is for animals to start coming up to her for advice.

Jud is behind on his payments for the ranch and will be forced into foreclosure. He must sell more animals and whatever he has left or end up with nothing. When Maya learns about this situation, she hopes the other kids and her secret weapon --the animals -- will help her help Jud.

Dr. Dolittle 3 lacks the kind of sparkle, energy and comedic timing of Eddie Murphy. Its script, by Nina Colman, fails to evoke one drop of laughter. The jokes are tired, and those that should have worked are poorly executed by the cast. To make matters worse, novice director Rich Thorne does not pace the film well.

However, Pratt proves she has talent in a song and dance number here. Unfortunately, she looks uncomfortable in other sections throughout the film, especially in scenes where she speaks directly to the animals.

DVD special features include audio commentary from Pratt and Thorne, a Growing Up Dolittle feature, and a Making of Dr. Dolittle 3 bonus item.

(Released by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and rated "PG" for some crude humor and language.)