Clifford the Big Red Dog: A Review
Emily (Darby Camp), a young girl, receives an extraordinary gift from a mysterious old man (John Cleese of “Monty Python” fame): an adorable puppy with bright red fur. With her mother away on a business trip, Emily is left in the care of her scatterbrained and unemployed Uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall), who requires almost as much supervision as she does. This allows Emily to easily conceal her new, furry houseguest. However, the secret becomes harder to keep when the puppy grows to the size of a truck overnight, wreaking havoc and demanding attention. To manage this oversized canine, the two relatives must quickly mature and learn to take responsibility for their actions.
Jack Whitehall as Casey in “Clifford the Big Red Dog”
“Clifford the Big Red Dog” is an adaptation of Norman Bridwell’s beloved children’s book series. As such, moral lessons and didacticism are unavoidable elements of the genre. Young Emily, for instance, is the target of ridicule at school, an “ugly duckling” forced to endure her otherness. Her Uncle Casey is a hopeless man-child who once forgot his niece on the subway and lives in a dilapidated van. Naturally, Emily will find a friend and realize that being an outsider isn’t so bad. Casey will come to the realization that if a giant dog can become a valued member of society, he too should grow up, smarten up, and get his act together.
Darby Camp as Emily in “Clifford the Big Red Dog”
Despite the abundance of educational moments (take responsibility, don’t blindly follow the crowd, do the dishes, and love your mother), it’s hard to take them seriously. The best family films don’t exploit their childishness. “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” on the other hand, exudes the vibe of a kindergarten movie: grating melodies reminiscent of naive 90s comedies, jokes about defecating animals, and cartoonish villains reminiscent of the characters from the cult meme series “LazyTown.” It’s clear that adults aren’t the target audience.
Darby Camp as Emily in “Clifford the Big Red Dog”
Paradoxically, the most charming character in this journey towards awareness and responsible behavior is… the rascal Casey. He acts like a comic relief character from a slapstick comedy (arriving late for a job interview, grabbing a handful of candies from the secretary’s desk, and using hand sanitizer as cologne), but he seems more alive than the irritatingly righteous characters. This clueless, unkempt guy, who spends his days in a stuffy van, steals the spotlight from both Emily and, frankly, the giant red dog.
The Absurdity is Where the Magic Happens
This preachy “Clifford” only shines when it’s outrageously wrong and absurd. For example, in scenes with a crazy Russian grandmother devouring entire cans of condensed milk, or a one-armed shopkeeper with the demeanor of a ninja assassin. The creators are far more successful with simple, colorful buffoonery than with platitudes for the little ones: chases after the giant dog, encounters with rabid genetically modified goats (yes, they exist here), and other cartoonish madness. The lesson may have failed, but the kids will definitely be satisfied.