Genre: Comedy, Adventure
Directed by Walt Becker
Produced by Jordan Kerner, Iole Lucchese
Screenplay by Jay Scherick, David Ronn, Blaise Hemingway
Story by Justin Malen, Ellen Rapoport
Based on Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
Starring: Jack Whitehall, Darby Camp, Tony Hale, Sienna Guillory, David Alan Grier, Russell Wong, Kenan Thompson & John Cleese.
Edited by Sabrina Plisco
Music by John Debney
Cinematography: Peter Lyons Collister
Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, Entertainment One, New Republic Pictures, The Kerner Entertainment Company, Scholastic Entertainment
Distributed by Paramount Pictures (Worldwide), Entertainment One (Canada and United Kingdom)
The plot: Emily Elizabeth’s life turns interesting when a magical animal rescuer gifts her a cute red puppy, which grows to be a ten-foot-tall dog.
The New Clifford the big red dog movie was descent.
Pros: I was impressed how much they got Clifford right. The relationship between Clifford and Emily was the bread and butter that hold the film together. Jack Whitehall playing the uncle was fine and it knows what it was trying to be.
Cons: The storyline involving Tony Hale didn’t need to be. in some parts it had a lot of cliches from family films. And that’s it.
The Casts:
- Clifford, a 10-foot-tall red dog who is adopted by Emily but falls victim of operating by Lyfegro. He does not speak in the film but rather communicates through barking and other vocal effects.
- Darby Camp as Emily Elizabeth Howard, a 12-year-old girl who has to save Clifford from Lyfegro.
- Jack Whitehall as Casey Porter, Emily’s clumsy yet good-natured uncle and Maggie’s younger brother.
- Tony Hale as Zac Tieran, the owner of Lyfegro, a genetics company that wants Clifford.
- Sienna Guillory as Maggie Howard, Emily Elizabeth’s mother and Casey’s older sister who is on a business trip in Chicago.
- David Alan Grier as Mr. Packard, the building superintendent of the apartment building that Emily and Maggie live in.
- Russell Wong as Mr. Yu, Owen’s father.
- John Cleese as Mr. Bridwell, the magical animal rescuer who gives Clifford to Emily. He is named after the creator of the Clifford character, Norman Bridwell.
- Izaac Wang as Owen Yu, the boy from another apartment and Emily’s best friend and classmate. He is also the owner of Clifford’s pug friend, Brutus (aka “T-Bone”).
- Kenan Thompson as Clifford’s veterinarian. Thompson voiced the character Hamburger in the original animated series. His nametag reads “Russ T.,” a reference to Thompson’s character from D2: The Mighty Ducks, Russ Tyler.
- Tovah Feldshuh as Mrs. Crullerman, Emily’s elderly Russian neighbor.
- Paul Rodriguez as Sanchez, the bodega owner and Raul’s boss.
- Russell Peters as Malik.
- Keith Ewell as Mr. Jarvis, a man whom Clifford saves from falling.
- Mia Ronn as Florence, a popular girl in Emily’s school who bullies her.
- Horatio Sanz as Raul, a bodega employee.
- Rosie Perez as Lucille.
- Alex Moffat as Albert.
- Jessica Keenan Wynn as Colette, Tieran’s scheming lawyer.
- Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Petra.
- Ty Jones as Watkins, the chief of police.
- Bear Allen-Blaine as Mrs. Jarvis, Emily’s faithful lawyer who helps her save Clifford from Lyfegro.
I recommend this film on Paramount+.
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident film reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe.