Clifford the Big Red Dog

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.

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.

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 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.