“Clifford” Comes to Life: REVIEW

The beloved childhood story by Norman Bridwell is making its live action debut and bringing tears to the young at heart.

Paramount’s Clifford The Big Red Dog follows the adventures of Emily Elizabeth as she is trying to navigate a prestigious middle school filled with the typically “mean girls”. She finds herself lost and alone until she and her uncle happen upon Bridwell’s Animal Rescue and the cutest little red puppy imaginable. Through a comical twist of saying “No we can’t keep him”, the little puppy ends up in Emily’s backpack as hearts melt and he ends up staying for just one night.

Through that one night of love and a little magic, that little puppy named Clifford grows into a big puppy. Now it is up to Emily Elizabeth and her fun loving, irresponsible uncle to keep Clifford safe while trying to figure out just what made him grow.

At an hour thirty six minute run time, Clifford the Big Red Dog is a film for all ages. Children will enjoy the colorful picture of a red dog trying to make his way in the big city while creating a mess on the way. Adults, specifically ones who grew up either reading the books or watching the 90’s PBS show will rekindle their childhood as they watch the puppy that we all fell in love with.

The film stars Darby Camp as the little girl who just wants a friend as she learns to be “brave and strong” when she has to protect her big puppy from the evil city. Camp definitely has a pure innocence that shines in this role. She manages to melt even the hardest of hearts and convince the world that Clifford is harmless.

Starring alongside as her crazy, irresponsible uncle is Jungle Cruise‘s Jack Whitehall as he truly embodies the term “man-child”. We first see Uncle Casey trying to be grown up as he goes in for a potential job interview. He of course fails to impress and soon is called by his older sister to stay with his niece. The relationship starts off awkward until Clifford and then slowly tightens up as they both realize they are stronger together in order to save the Big Red Dog.

The film also stars John Cleese as Bridwell as well as David Alan Grier as the powerful, manipulative Packard who just wants to exploit the Big Red Dog for his own selfish ways.

Clifford The Big Red Dog came out in theaters November 10th and is the perfect movie for the young and young at heart.