Overall Thoughts: Better than expected, but also not quite as good as it could have been.
I was very skeptical of Clifford getting the live-action, big screen treatment. Norman Bridwell's classic stories have been likened to Winnie the Pooh in terms of overall whimsy and feel. And, being a 90's kid, I was a big fan of the PBS cartoon (and its' 2004 series-concluding movie). With this movie, I was really nervous that it would follow Alvin and the Chipmunks and modernize it's overall plot and characters too much. The first trailer was a mixed bag.
And, I can say the movie ends up being close to the same way. Thankfully, Clifford doesn't quite reach the point of being starkly out of character like Alvin or Tom and Jerry. However, some over-the-top characters and a second act that makes too many facepalm-worthy and predictable choices keep it from being the next Christopher Robin.
Clifford's VFX work was definitely a point of concern for many. However, I am glad to report that the overall job done here is pretty good. Sometimes, it seems like it's played safe, but ultimately, Clifford is still pretty adorable. I'm also happy that the scene where Emily does ride Clifford lives up to its' potential. John Debney's music score is fine.
Speaking of Emily, Darby Camp does a wonderful job playing the character. She brings the innocence and wonder, while also providing some emotional gravitas to boot. John Cleese is also fantastic as Mr. Bridwell (knowing nod, wink wink) in the few scenes he's in. Jack Whitehall, on the other hand, is too over-the-top at times (the same goes for Tony Hale as the villain). On the positive side, however, he does get a few moments where he does show a more sensitive side. A side character named Owen also is a little over-the-top.
Clifford does have some heartfelt moments, particularly in its third act. However, the journey to get there can be a little bit tiresome. The jokes do not hit their intended mark, some of the characters are too cartoonish, and the plot is very predictable. The last part would be a given for a movie aimed at kids, but the 2000 cartoon was definitely gentler and didn't have the "try too hard" vibe of a good portion of this movie.
And even though the third act is most certainly the film's strongest, the supporting characters brought together to help save Clifford have pretty much only one scene apiece prior to then. Some of them, I don't even recall them meeting the dog. That's a bit of a story error, and definitely could have used a little bit of tweaking to make their involvement seem more believable.
In the end, Clifford the Big Red Dog has its moments, and it's definitely better than I was fearing it would be (especially considering director Walt Becker has had a really bad reputation with critics). But, it's also not quite the nostalgia trip I was hoping for. It could have benefited from less over-the-top characters and moments, as well as a gentler approach in it's writing.
But, for a kids' movie in 2021, it's pretty OK. And, that's fine with me.
Grade: B-
Is this movie family-friendly? Clifford the Big Red Dog is rated PG for "impolite humor, thematic elements, and mild action." While not overdone, the film does have some bathroom humor and a couple of lightly adult humorous moments (i.e. Clifford smells a plumber's rear end, and he's then hidden, and it's assumed differently). Elsewhere, there's quite a bit of lying, and uses of the British profanities "bloody" and "bollocks" in a mocking tone. "Oh my g**" is used a few times. Clifford does get into some slapstick situations, but no one is badly hurt. A mention of a "spirit animal". In the end, I think this is pretty solid option for ages 5 and up, with some light guidance from parents.
