Clifford the Big Red Dog

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.