Director: Walt Becker
Starring: Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, Izaac Wang, John Cleese, Sienna Guilllory, Tony Hale, David Alan Grier, Paul Rodriguez, Russell Peters, Tovah Feldshuh, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Rosie Perez
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Runtime: 96 mins. Reviewed in Dec 2021
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Mild crude humour and slapstick violence

Emily Elizabeth is given a red puppy – she loves it so much it grows overnight. Lots of comedy situations. And a villain who wants Clifford at all costs. Emily Elizabeth saves the day.

For older reviewers, they need to put on their grandparent glasses and realise that from 1963 to 1998, there were umpteen cartoon books with Clifford, the red dog as their focus. Which means that this live-action 2021 version, while made for today’s younger audiences, should find willing parents and grandparents to accompany the children as they remember their happy times with Clifford.

Clifford is part of the litter, mother and others taken in by animal rescue. He gets out and encounters a moustachioed old gentleman sitting in the park, looking a little like Frank Morgan as the Wizard of Oz (Cleese). Cleese’s Mr Bridwell, older and more portly than John Cleese used to be, as well as being rather benign, friendly, touches of magic, and certainly kindly towards children.

Then we are introduced to Emily Elizabeth (a very sensible name), who is picked on at school. Actually, Camp who plays Emily Elizabeth has a strong screen presence, seemingly not a girl that would be bullied or lack self-confidence. She loves animals and goes into Mr Bridwell’s tent of exotic animals and falls in love with Clifford, who is bright red and very cute.

Emily Elizabeth is being looked after by her undependable Uncle Casey (Whitehall), a slob, accident-prone, put down by everyone, lacking self-confidence. He can be very irritating. But, we know that by the end he is going to be lovable and heroic – which happens, more or less!

The big thing is that Emily Elizabeth loves Clifford so much, despite Clifford’s touches of mischief, that overnight he increases to not just being a big red dog but a BIG red dog. Lots of comedy here, smashing things as he tries to move around the apartment, sits on scales and breaks them… Plenty of old-fashioned comedy here.

But, of course, there has to be a villain of the piece, and here is in the form of Tieran (Hale), a tyrant running a big business to produce more food for the world, experimenting with animals, seeing publicity and promotion with Clifford and claiming him, trying to capture him. We just can’t wait for him to have his comeuppance!

There are lots of character actors in supporting roles, especially the inhabitants of the apartment block, African-Americans, Hispanics, Jewish. And Emily Elizabeth’s best friend, Owen, is an American Chinese whose millionaire father is very understanding, hospitable and tries to save Clifford.

This is one for the younger audiences, the teenagers might be tempted to think that it is below them (but they should enjoy it also). The film, like Clifford, grows on you and, even in grandparental mode, you find that you have enjoyed it.