User reviews

Having watched the original with my daughter many times I was doubtful this new version would love up to expectations but I need not have been concerned, this film worked really well.

The comedy was very good and it wasn't overly cheesy. The acting was quite good and the visuals ok.

It won't win any awards but is worth a watch.

Neither me nor my son were familiar with the animated series with the big red dog, so we sat down to watch the 2021 family movie "Clifford The Big Red Dog" without having a clue what we were in for, aside from it being a movie with an oversized red puppy.

I will say that writers Jay Scherick, David Ronn, Blaise Hemingway, Justin Malen and Ellen Rapoport definitely managed to put together a wholesome and entertaining movie for the entire family, because there was something to enjoy here for all members of the audience, regardless of age.

The storyline told in "Clifford The Big Red Dog" was rather enjoyable and actually proved entertaining from begininng to end, so thumbs up to the writers for that accomplishment, and also to director Walt Becker for bringing the script to life on the screen in a good way.

It should be said that the effects in the movie were good, and the oversized red puppy definitely came off as being realistic and believable, not to mention very adorable and loveable, as puppies usually are. So the CGI team that worked on "Clifford The Big Red Dog" certainly worked their magic in bringing the great red puppy to life on the screen.

Of course realism and such is out the window here, but then again, it is not something you take into the equation when you sit down and watch a movie such as "Clifford The Big Red Dog".

The movie also has a good ensemble of casted performers on the cast list, with the likes of Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, David Alan Grier and John Cleese.

If you enjoy family movies, then you should definitely take the time to sit down and watch "Clifford The Big Red Dog", as it was rather enjoyable.

My rating of "Clifford The Big Red Dog" lands on a well-deserved six out of ten stars.

"Clifford the Big Red Dog" is very cute. The characters are likable, and the story is heart warming. I enjoyed this film way more than I thought I would.

This is a super cute movie that is fun for the whole family. I was laughing just as hard as my children and it was a great story. With that being said; surely we could have had better graphics. The CGI puppy was so poorly done, it distracted from the actual movie...

Clifford The Big Red Dog is indicative of the Boomer generation creation that becomes iconic, in terms of its simplicity. He is big...he is red and he is a dog, no doubt. The 60's, where the books come from, have this sensibility. Making the most basic things blow up in popularity.

Though the movie takes place in present day New York City, this movie definitely belongs in a different generation. One that requires that a man who lives in his cube truck be gleefully unapologetic about his lot in life, or that a paralegal and her daughter can afford to live in a large Harlem apartment. Or that everyone in the neighborhood are mystically whimsical and light, then this movie is for you. It may as well be a musical.

The story is of a girl for which magic works, and if your brain doesn't accept this, then this film is not for you.

I happen to miss this level of innocence. It lacks the cynicism to which politics have ruined everything. It just wants you to like it. Much like Clifford. He is sweet, wide-eyed and has no clue why he is seen as abnormal. Isn't that what we all want?

Special kudos to John Cleese speaking lines that would die in any other actor's mouth.

Everyone in this flick just seems so happy to do something this light.

I genuinely enjoyed this movie and found myself smiling. And that is all that is required.

All jokes aside, what did you expect from this? This is a really silly, quite stupid, fast-paced movie that has a great deal of heart and not a lot of sense to it.

It's purely inoffensive. It's dumb and frantic enough for young children yet I was surprised at how many of the jokes landed for me as an adult.

I didn't hate it. I enjoyed myself. It's a fun, forgettable time.

This movie was just what I thought it was going to be. Just like the Clifford books and PBS show it is just as kid friendly and cute like the the show and books were showing.

The acting was fine and I think the actor playing Cliffords owner Emily Elizabeth was trying to give a good performance, sometimes it works but sometimes it's awkward.

The other actors are just silly because its a kids movie and they can be entertained by that, even when there is a big red dog running around.

Clifford was actually cute and lovable with pretty good effects making Clifford looking real, only when there are close ups of Emily Elizabeth riding Clifford it can obviously look like CGI.

But most of the effects work and I found myself liking what they have, even if it is random and made only to entertain kids.

If you like the Clifford the Big Red Dog books and PBS show then you might like this. Overall It was entertaining and surprising when it does something I didn't expect, but it's just a normal kids movie.

I'm not sure I understand why we had to endure Jack Whitehall's terrible American accent. Why does he need to be American when his sister is English?

Besides that, Clifford is a warm and feel good family film.

Emily Elizabeth really holds her own, the whole film is cast well and the main trio certainly have excellent chemistry.

The feel good and magical opening does go a little flat during the middle as it transition to a run of the mill comedy caper but there is some moments of very funny dialogue.

I also feel they could have played the bullied card a little bit more to draw out even more authentic emotion from this story.

Clifford is worth watching as a family but may not be one you go back to in a hurry.

Yes, yes, yes...I am aware it's based off a kids story but I'm a dog person who is an adult. I only watched this movie for Clifford alone (yes, I was only interested in it due to a giant CGI red dog) . It's a cute kid's movie that's very lighthearted and has it's funny moments. The purpose of this movie is to respect each other, no matter how different they are. Also, a dog isn't a woman's or man's best friend...

Dogs are a human's best friend.

"Clifford the Big Red Dog" is a Comedy - Adventure movie in which we watch a young girl taking a tiny red puppy at her home and her love for it, making the dog grow to an enormous size.

I enjoyed this movie because it had a simple but nice plot and it contained plenty of funny moments that were combined with some action scenes. The interpretations of Darby Camp who played as Emily, Izaac Wang who played as Owen, Jack Whitehall who played as Casey and John Cleese who played as Bridwell were very good and their combination worked very well. The direction which was made by Walt Becker was good and he presented very well both his main characters and the plot. Finally, I have to say that "Clifford the Big Red Dog" is a nice movie to spend your time with and I am sure you will enjoy it.

I remember the books when I was a kid of Clifford the Big Red Dog, and after all the kids books being made into films, I was not surprised that Clifford was made.

My only problem with this film is Jack Whitehall, he's not terrible but moments where he tries to be funny, he isn't. Trying to be Topher Grace and Zachery Levi mixed together and it doesn't get many laughs. The effects with Clifford are very done, really has you convinced. Darby Camp is a delight here, so was John Cleese and Russell Wong. If anybody read the books, I believe you'll feel like a kid again watching this.

Rather classical (with a thumb up for the inventive fight scene in the deli) but cute, funny and positive story with rather realistic special effects (not a spoiler: the dog's mum is a real dog, the puppies are CG) that will delight with joy and awe an young audience.

I love animals and I like and follow movies whose plot revolves around them ('Louis Wain' for instance). But this was a downer to me. Nothing is remarkable nor emotional to me in here. After the premise is presented, It all falls flat and short of any expectation. I wanted to like it, but I left the theater without any emotion inside me.

3 out of 5 stars.

Clifford being made into a live action film is finally on the screen. It is cute. The cast is charming with there roles. The humor is cheesy and fun for the whole family. The story is decent. And the visual effects are iffy. But still enjoyable for the family.

Far more enjoyable than I expected it to be, although not anything to cry home about, Clifford the Big Red Dog gets its job done doing what it needs to do. I'll start with the films cons- mainly being the many jokes that don't work and its incredibly generic villain. Yeah its expected to have some corny jokes and some that don't simply work in a movie like this, but its just disappointing to see how in the midst of trying so hard on this film, they still don't realize how it drags the film down in quality. And yeah, the villain is about as forgettable as they come- and honestly a very odd choice. I enjoy Tony Hale as much as the next guy, but he just doesn't work as a villain- let alone someone who is trying to accomplish world hunger, but I guess he just cares about money- but its still such an odd odd choice both casting and writing wise. The film is moderately entertaining throughout and has a very sweet charm to it, even made me tear up a couple of times. Its an incredibly sweet film about friendship and family, and its central message is very well executed in the end. It's not as big as its titular character, but in the end, Clifford the Big Red Dog isn't half bad for an adaptation of a childrens book from nearly 60 years ago. Lets just hope they don't make it into a franchise.

My Rating: 5.6/10.

Funny, cute adorable. That's about it really, cheesy plot, cheesy CGI, cheesy everything in fact, but your kids will love it. And most adults who aren't going to expect an Oscar winning arty film. Great fun with a little message at the end. Loved it.

LIKES:

The Pace: The books are not the deepest bits of lore, always meant to capture attention with the colorful illustrations and superficial fun. This live adaptation manages to keep that fun going, using the imagery to entertain, while also allowing time to enjoy the simplistic story set before it. There is little dawdling and identity politics in this movie, and instead just trying to give you an adventure with a unique dog and his loving owner. Kids will love the fast paced nature of the film, and parents should be happy that they get out of the movie a bit faster than your typical film. However, it should be noted that the movie also gives time to appreciate aspects of the film, at least to the children's book level quality.

The Story: Clifford's story is certainly simple and fun, and like many movies of the modern era, instilled to teach the younger generation. A few important life lessons are illustrated in the movie and preaching the message we got hit with during the election. Charming, well versed, and presented in a straightforward manner, Clifford's human cast is ready to raise awareness to these issues. Yet, the biggest part of the story I loved was just the core tale of the girl and her love for the dog, and that heartwarming element makes you feel good, assuming you can get past the preachiness of it.

The Comedy, to an extent: Clifford is a kids oriented film, and that means the comedy is following that suit as well. For kids, the antics are most likely going to result in the theater or room erupting in laughter, while for parents there are going to be spare moments of actual laughs. Yet, there are times where the forced line, timing, and the joke itself are funny and will appeal to the more mature palette. The child like nature in my heart also got some laughs out as well and I absolutely felt a third of the movie I chuckled in.

The Cute Factor: It's a family fun film, with the level a 1 or 2 at most for being too much viewers. Clifford's safe waters amplify and rely on you being drawn in by the cute factor, and do not shy away from feeling like the book's they are based on. Puppy antics are the heart of the cuteness, but there are some other things that deserve a nod from me in this film. The neighborhood factor is charming and adorable, giving vibes of Sesame Street that help establish that extended family friends. Emily's relationship with a few of her friends also is wrapped up in a nice little bow, and holds a relevant factor to me, which once again amplifies the awe factor I held for it. Again, it's family friendly aspect that are enjoyable, and I absolutely think this will be a high factor for the intended audience.

The Animation/Dog: The star of the show is actually the one who is not alive, the CGI dog that is Clifford. While he is not the goofy, big eyed dog made famous in the books, the Labrador look suits him well and the puppy element kept in theme with the dog. I fell in love with the design of the puppy, and impressed with the details that they manage to add in this movie. His animation was smooth, the physiology executed perfectly, adding those touches of whines, moans, and barks that the canine animal kingdom thrives in. And yet, they also added a human quality that pets seem to have, helping to give Clifford more character to fall in love with. He was utilized well, for both storytelling and comedy, and the commercialism of him delivered 110% for this reviewer. Kids will fall in love with the titular character, and hopefully the older group will appreciate the work that went into him.

DISLIKES:

Predictable: While the story is in line the books, it does not mean we needed to be devoid of a little extra flare factor in the movie. Clifford's adventure holds little surprise, and you can discern the story in about twenty minutes from the start. I did not need anything dark or super complicated, but I think we can all agree that adding some layers could have elevated the audience range a little more.

The Antagonist Kids movies have shown great villains in the form of Scar, Xibalba, even Maleficent. Clifford did not give us that award winning bad guy, instead generic poser who did little but overact and talk like a snide business man. The weaker antagonist made for impasses and obstacles that could have again livened up the movie. It led again to scenes lacking suspense, and a very G rated experience that did little for the older audience member like myself. Again, kids should be okay, but trending towards the preteen era, may see diminishing returns compared to other classic kids movies and makes it a little boring unfortunately.

The Acting: I get it, this is not meant to be the Academies, but more effort could have been used to up the game a little bit. Clifford's group is certainly not the worst acting bunch, but there is much to be desired in the young cast that I hope to see evolve in future works. The lead role has moments that are touching and really show the potential, while other times are forced acting that fall back into uncomfortable direction that I don't think they intended. The second child star was okay, and he hits points that will have younger audience members cackling in glee. Yet, the direction of the character is a bit haphazard, uneven, and inconsistent that needed some toning down to be the character I think they wanted. As for the adults, they do some things very well, but again most of them are very one dimensional, super annoying at times, and so forced on comedy that again you need to have the kid state of mind to fully appreciate it. John Cleese is the exception to the rule, and he delivers his wacky, wizard role to fine perfection and balance that I had wished we had more of him.

The Stunts/Action: Highly geared towards kids, the adventure/exciting parts are cute, and there are times that it certainly delivers maximum impact on the dream of having a giant puppy. However, there are other times where the stunts are super silly, vaudeville like moments that are about being clumsy oafs, with overdone falling and overacted hits. Cute and funny as it is, it's excess takes away from the other moments of the movie I think they wanted to achieve. Had these been geared with a little more suspense, and having that adventure style without the intrusion of these wacky antics would have been fantastic to really make these moments the most fun.

Super Preachy In The End: As the ending is winding down, the emotions are running high, and there is a fun adventure moment to try to close the adventure out with, we get the final moments of the movie in a big speech. Emily makes the political speech to offset all the stuff she had done, and it is super preachy to the extent of getting caught up in the in your face moments that movies are becoming. It was cheesy, and lacked the finesse and majesty that I think they were envisioning when designing the final moment. Again, I like the message, I like the heart, and the intent, but the execution was sort of lost to the overdramatic flair that they had it come out.

The VERDICT: Clifford's real life adventure has the heart and soul of the books, and is perfect for the goal of making family fun at the theater. I loved the pacing and energy, had fun with the cute jokes and atmosphere, and appreciated the heartwarming nature this movie brings in the short run time. Clifford is the star of the show by far, and the CGI dog captured much of my attention in design, movement, and character and my highest selling point for this film getting a view. Yet, the movie is geared towards the family environment a little too much, and gets a little ridiculous and over the top to lean away from older audience members. The antagonist is minimal, the excitement diluted by over silly moments, and the story's simplicity leaves it lacking the full growth I had hoped to find in this film. A theater visit can be fun, but if you have been subscribing to Paramount+, then you'll be just fine at home watching this film given the quality, though I would like it to make enough money to get another shot at a sequel, because I love that puppy.

My scores are:

Animation/Adventure/Comedy: 7.0.

Movie Overall: 5.5.

Despite having mostly decent visual effects and a little amount of heart, this movie does NOT deliver the "fantastical lovable animal" experience that other modern classics do (Paddington, Peter Rabbit, etc.). Mostly corny comedy really kills the execution :-(

I'm aware of the books but not familiar with them.

One thing that I thought was odd is not once did I get the feeling that they actually used a real dog for this picture. I don't know if making the dog CGI red possibly effected how real it looked to my eye but I thought it was strange that not at one point did Clifford look real when obviously they had no problem using a real dog.

They got a cute kid to head up the movie. Although sometimes it felt she was not interacting with the fake dog all that well (and kids are supposed to be good at that, right?). This could be the fault of the visual effects. Then again, there was some great stunt work with the CGI dog that contradicts that.

So, the CGI is a very big part of making this dog come to life and yet it's so so. That's not good.

The iffy visuals almost overshadowed an All-star cast (Well All-Star to me). It was a pro to me to go see the film. The online poster stated Rosie Perez was one of the stars of the movie, and I was like cool, but her role was only in one scene and was not even big enough to get into the credits sequence at the end of the movie. That's ok cause Clifford had many other D Listers like Kemon Thompson, Tony Hale, John Cleese and a couple of other actors you may have seen on Saturday Night Live.

Heartwarming Story almost makes you forget they the CGI lacks in some cases, but it really does affect the movie.

Typical predicatable girl has an issue corny bad guy film. Doesn't even loosely follow the books except names of some characters . Clifford looks super computer generated.

Okay so I'll say im a 32 year old man who has no children but watched this all by myself at home and it was a howeling good time I laughed out loud I felt a sweet spirit watching this one too it's one of the best kids movies this year I highly recommend it.

It's a fairly predictable, feel good, family movie. There are some genuinely funny scenes, though pretty much all of them appear in the trailer, so maybe avoid that if you can. The plot has been seen many times before. The dog is cute and steels the show throughout. The kids laughed a lot and now all want a red puppy for Christmas! Don't look for too much plot, character development etc and you'll have a fun 90 minutes.

If you are like me, you remember reading the books and watching the cartoons; I wouldn't have imagined watching Clifford on the big screen.

Clifford: The Big Red Dog is family fun. The film does an adequate job with pacing to keep the younger audience engaged. With childlike humor mixed with some subtle adult jokes, Clifford appeals to the whole family. There are themes of being courageous and believing in yourself when facing adversity ( forget those mean middle schoolers) also a sense of family.

Verdict: Clifford: The Big Red Dog is a fair film, predictable plot, easy-going, and is made for the kiddos. Nevertheless still an enjoyable movie with a nostalgic factor for the older crowd.

Does this bring me to paradise? I had a good time watching this with my younger sibling!

The plot of the movie wasn't very interesting, because it was too childish. The storyline, was average (nothing wow). The characters weren't very interesting, but they were very likeable and funny. The CGI effects and the dog's design was really well edited, very realistic. In my opinion, that movie was meant for children, because the concept of the film, isn't very mature.. Overall, it was a kinda basic dog-movie. Just, another one villain who's trying to capture the dog. Of course, I have to admit that it's a watchable and kinda enjoyable movie. By the way, I don't know if I'm gonna watch that movie ever again, lol. Also, the jokes weren't very funny, they were kinda cringy. The casting and the acting were both very good. Last but not least, the ending scene was expected and I really liked it.