Dudley Do-Right (1999)

14% of critics liked it
(44 reviews)
25% of users liked it
(39,486 ratings)

After giving George of the Jungle human form, Brendan Fraser returns to cartoon-land with another live-action update of an animated TV classic. Set in the peaceful village of Semi-Happy Valley high in the Canadian Rockies, our story focuses on Dudley Do-Right (Fraser), a member of the Royal Canadian… More After giving George of the Jungle human form, Brendan Fraser returns to cartoon-land with another live-action update of an animated TV classic. Set in the peaceful village of Semi-Happy Valley high in the Canadian Rockies, our story focuses on Dudley Do-Right (Fraser), a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who never lets his lack of intelligence get in the way of his dedication and determination to get his man. Dudley's superior, Inspector Fenwick (Robert Prosky), displays a bemused tolerance towards Dudley's enthusiastic ineptitude, and Dudley is beguiled by the Inspector's daughter, Nell (Sarah Jessica Parker), who has made a home in Seattle after traveling the world, but is now paying her father an extended visit. Before Dudley can make much of a (positive) impression on Nell, the evil Snidely Whiplash (Alfred Molina) enters the picture. Determined to take Semi-Happy Valley for everything it's worth, Snidely sends Dudley in search of vampires hiding in the woods, and, while he's away, plants gold nuggets in a nearby stream. When a prospector (Eric Idle) happens upon them, word gets out that Semi-Happy Valley is gold country. Quickly opening a string of businesses to cater to the flood of would-be gold miners, Snidely becomes the town's richest citizen, and Semi-Happy Valley is even renamed Whiplash City. Snidely's fame and wealth gain Nell's attention, while Dudley's search for vampires causes the Inspector to fire him. However, in time, Dudley realizes that something is afoot, and he is determined to expose Snidely Whiplash and bring him to justice. Director Hugh Wilson wrote and directed the first film in the Police Academy series; Dudley Do-Right was his second directorial credit of 1999 with Brendan Fraser, after they worked together on Blast From the Past. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 17 min.
Directed By: Hugh Wilson
Written By: Hugh Wilson, Jay Ward
Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Aug 27, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Dec 28, 1999
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Surprisingly pleasant.
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
The fanciful associations and bad jokes are more often stupid than silly, making all the spectacle and contrived dance numbers seem a colossal waste.
Joe Leydon, Variety
One of the summer's more pleasant surprises.
Louis B. Parks, Houston Chronicle
Dudley is merely a dud.
Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There's not one joke, one slapstick moment, one innuendo that's funny.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
The latest in a series of movies adapted from old TV series aimed at Baby Boomers and their babies.
Steve Simels, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Why in the wide, wide, world of sports would anybody make a big-budget feature film from a decades-old, animated cartoon parody of Nelson Eddy/Jeanette MacDonald movies?
Chris Gore, Film Threat
Brendan gets hit in the face a lot, that's good for a few laughs but you've already seen it in the trailer.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Barely gets a plus for comedy, but Brendan Fraser is always fun to see.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Only for little kids or anyone with no discerning taste.
Laura Reiley, Palo Alto Weekly
Pacing is slow in this comedy, as if actors are waiting -- along with the weary kids and adults in the audience -- for anyone to say something funny. We're still waiting.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
Though occasionally producing a minor chuckle, Dudley Do-Right is mainly characterized by good artists making bad choices.
Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
How lucky can moviegoers get? Three Brendan Fraser movies this year!
Paula Nechak, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
A big dud.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bently L

Brendan Fraser is a living cartoon character. In every film I've seen him in, he has zany characteristics and gives cheesy smiles at the camera. Even in "The Mummy", I feel like I'm watching an action-packed cartoon series. Universal tried to cash in on the success… More
Brendan Fraser is a living cartoon character. In every film I've seen him in, he has zany characteristics and gives cheesy smiles at the camera. Even in "The Mummy", I feel like I'm watching an action-packed cartoon series. Universal tried to cash in on the success of Disney's "George of the Jungle" adaption with Brendan Fraser by putting him in a theatrical adaption of another Jay Ward (creator of "George of the Jungle") toon, "Dudley Do-Right". The film felt like a quest to find a plot! The film is about a clumsy mountie named Dudley Do-Right (because he's always doing right!) who must stop his long time nemesis, Snidley Whiplash, from taking over Semi-Happy Valley. The rest is just a whole bunch of plot threads who were abused by hardly being developed. Fraser is doing what he does best: acting weirdly. So I consider him to be the best actor in the film. Alfred Molina speaks in a annoying cartoonish voice. It worked sometimes at got out of hand for the remainder. Sarah Jessica Parker was acting terribly. She looked like the thought, "I'm getting paid for this, right?", ran through her head throughout her screen time. Supporting cast: LAME! Not even Eric Idle helped. The humor is so flat! Eric Idle was not funny and so was Alfred Molina. Not even the "Pokemon" reference helped! When I did find something amusing, I replied with dry chcukles. I just wonder how much they paid the writer, Hugh Wilson. The other stupid thing was the opening credits. The titles, "Written by Hugh Wilson" and "Directed by Hugh Wilson", are seperate. Were they just too lazy to put "Written for the screen and directed by Hugh Wilson"? Laziness, people! Laziness! The film was even unsure of itself. It felt and anachronistic and bored of itself. The film was just lazy. It was flat, lazy, and supplied very little to children. Low on slapstick. What a shame. "Dudley Do-Right" is a do-wrong. The "George of the Jungle" movie was more butch and that live-action "Flintstones" movie had more dignity than this. Come on, Hollywood! Come on!
Leigh R

Awful.
xGary X

What starts off as a clunky live action cartoon movie in the same broad (and largely awful) vein as The Flintstones, it takes a particularly surreal turn half way through and actually becomes reasonably watchable. Very odd...
Juan C

full of zany family fun that will satisfy you and a family next you. B+
Yinalí R

Super funny, loved it since I was a little girl.
Lee K

sucked ass