Clifford The Big Red Dog – Movie Review

Clifford The Big Red Dog is now in theaters and streaming on Paramount+.

It’s impossible to find someone who did not grow up reading Clifford The Big Red Dog? Multiple generations since 1963 fell in love with man’s best friend with a red coat of fur and skyscraper size. From books to cartoons, Clifford now graces the big screen in the live-action film.

Synopsis

When middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) meets a magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) who gifts her a little, red puppy, she never anticipated waking up to find a giant ten-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. While her single mom (Sienna Guillory) is away for business, Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat as our heroes take a bite out of the Big Apple.

This film will easily entertain the kids. I expected a low-quality mess of a live-action adaption, but surprisingly, they did a solid job. If you are a dog or pet lover like me, your heart will melt as you watch Clifford transform from a little playful pup to a sweet fur monster. This film is very wholesome and charming, with lessons taught throughout.

The supporting ensemble is quite impressive but random, which includes: John Cleese, David Alan Grier, Kenan Thompson, Russell Peter, Rosie Perez, and many more random additions. Darby Camp, who plays Emily, and Jack Whitehall, as Uncle Casey, have great chemistry together and were solid choices to lead this movie alongside Clifford. The CGI is not as bad as I viewed it at home on Paramount+, but it may be more evident in theaters. But nevertheless, Clifford shines as soon as he is introduced and makes you forget about anything imperfect in the movie.

Clifford The Big Red Dog Verdict

I give Clifford The Big Red Dog a 7.5 out of 10. It delivers a feel good message in a silly movie that the whole family will enjoy.

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