OK, regular readers of my column will already know I'm a fan of Eddie Murphy.

I cannot help but find the man funny. Even with his transformation from profane motormouth to every kid's favourite funny man he hasn't lost it. He's a natural and his comic persona makes the line-up of latter-day pretenders pale into insignificance.

With Dr Doolittle (not to be confused with the Nutty Professor) he was given the task of updating a highly popular British children's storybook character from the turn of the century into a modern day Black American family man. To his credit, he succeeded in totally reinventing the titular vet and making the character his own.

In the sequel he actually gets to develop that character and, it has to be said, steals the show from the plethora of talking furry friends on display. In fact I actually didn't find the animals all that funny, despite the excellent voice talent.

So the good Doc is having a slight domestic crisis when he finds out that his eldest daughter Charisse (Raven-Symone -- previously Bill Cosby's on-screen TV daughter) is dating the pizza delivery boy, Eric (Lil' Zane).

In the hope of helping things cool off a little he promises to take the family to Europe. Unfortunately his plans coincide with a call from the nearby forest mafia headed by God Beaver (voice Richard B Sarafian) to save their home from being wiped out by lumber tycoon Joseph Potter (the ever reliable Jeffrey Jones who seems to be in everything nowadays).

The Doc's only hope is a rare species of bear, only one of which still lives in the forest. The only other bear of the same family is a performing circus bear, which he must procure, (un)train and reintroduce into the wild.

Hopefully the two bears will then mate and technically begin the reintroduction of an endangered species. Thus the forest will be saved. The trip to Europe is called off and the Doolittle's heads for the woods; cue much wildlife hilarity.

OK so it's almost definitely one for the kids, but Murphy's talent for

skirting around adult issues and making it funny is utilised to the full.

Although the youngsters will miss some of the jokes, Mum and Dad will get their share of guffaws. The voice characterisation is superb, especially Steve Zahn as performing bear Archie and Lisa Kudrow as his potential mate Ava who along with their animal counterparts actually cook up some real on-screen chemistry.

It's all good natured fun and as predictable as expected. Kids will love it (I know mine did), adults will love Murphy and, although the whole thing may begin to slip from memory pretty soon after leaving the cinema, I can think of far worse ways of spending an hour and a half during the holidays.

Reviewed this week: Dr Doolittle2 (PG)