Dot Goes to Hollywood (1987) Poster

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6/10
Not as good as the other "Dot" movies, but it still is good.
robynh-41 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
"Dot Goes to Hollywood" is quite a break away from the other "Dot" films- not just because the title isn't "Dot &...." something, but also because it's not all set in the Australian bush (in fact, you only see the Australian bush for a few minutes during the start), the story is more about Hollywood and Dot's wild success in the business and, most notably, it somewhat defies the other "Dot" films by showing film reels of live action people and animated characters existing in the same frame at the same time.

The story for "Dot Goes to Hollywood" is this: Dot's best friend, Gumbley the koala, has contracted a disease that has become an epidemic among koalas. The disease causes blindness and ultimately death. Dot and Gumbley try to raise money for an operation for Gumbley by singing and dancing in the streets. Then one of the kangaroos tells Dot to go to Hollywood, where she can raise the big bucks in no time. Dot and Gumbley go to Hollywood; Gumbley is taken to a zoo when Dot is trying out for a talent competition. When Dot goes to the zoo to take Gumbley with her, the disease starts to worsen. The kindly zoo doctor promises to operate on Gumbley, but even the zoo is strapped for cash. However, Dot wins the talent competition, instantly making her a superstar overnight, and earning enough money for Gumbley's eye operation.

As I mentioned in my title, "Dot Goes to Hollywood" isn't as great as the other "Dot" films, but it still is watchable, and has the emotional punch the other films have. In this one, it's Gumbley who provides the emotional meat grinder: it's very sad to watch Dot give Gumbley eye drops for his infected eyes and he starts crying and saying that it hurts; when Gumbley sings about how much he misses Dot when he's in the zoo is equally sad, and the operation scenes are enough to make any one feel uneasy and melancholy, especially when the zoo doctor comments that the first operation didn't go so well and implies that if the second one fails then there's nothing they can do to help him anymore...

So although it's not like "Dot & the Kangaroo", "Dot Goes to Hollywood" is still funny, sad and pleasant to watch.
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7/10
Hollywooding with Dot
TheLittleSongbird5 July 2017
All the Dot films up to this point were well worth watching, ranging from good to very good and good representations of Australian animation. While 'Dot Goes to Hollywood' may be one of the weaker entries in the series, it's far from bad, to me it's still pretty good and much better than the rating as of now here.

The animation may at times lack finesse, with a few slightly rough around the edges character designs here and there. While most of the soundtracks in the Dot films work, especially in 'Dot and the Whale', though there is the occasional song misfire, while none of the music is terrible it is one of the less memorable soundtracks of the Dot series (personal opinion of course).

Children may find the description of the operation scenes a little frightening and upsetting, perhaps slightly out of place in a Dot film especially compared to the previous film.

However, the animation is mostly not bad. The colours are mostly vibrant and the backgrounds meticulously detailed.

'Dot Goes to Hollywood' is somewhat of a change of pace for the Dot film series, not in formula but in setting, and it was a refreshing one. It is a very familiar theme in animation and has been done many times much better, but it's done in a charming and affectionate here in 'Dot Goes to Hollywood'.

The script is chuckle-worthy-at-least funny, heart-breakingly poignant and affectionately heart-warming. The story is incredibly charming, with parts that make one feel good and others that may induce tears. Dot is very likable and Gumbley brings a lot of poignancy to the proceedings.

Voice acting is good, it fits the characters at least and it doesn't sound like the voice actors were over-parted.

In conclusion, good if one of the weaker Dot films. 7/10 Bethany Cox
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