Clifford’s Really Big Movie (2004)

2004, Warner Bros. Directed by Robert C. Ramirez. Voices: John Ritter, Wayne Brady, Kath Soucie, Cree Summer, Cam Clarke. Animated.

Reviewed by Sarah E. Greydanus, age 9, and Steven D. Greydanus

  1. Did you ever wonder how Emily Elizabeth’s parents manage to feed Clifford, the biggest, reddest dog of all time, year in and year out? Apparently, Clifford himself never really thought about it before.

    So why does it come up now? What happenes next?

  1. Clifford hears Mr. Bleakman say that feeding him must cost a whole lot of money. A carnival called "Larry’s Amazing Animals" has just been on Birdwell Island, and after the show Clifford hears from the animals about an animal contest with a prize of a lifetime supply of Tummy Yummies! So he decides to run away along with Cleo and T-Bone, win the contest, and bring the food back.

    They finally catch up with the carnival and start traveling around with them. But meanwhile, Emily Elizabeth notices that Clifford is gone and figures out that he’s left the island.

    After awhile, Clifford starts being the star of the show. And Shackelford the ferret, who’s always been the star of the show, is jealous and says some mean things to Clifford…

  1. Of course, in a Clifford story, people who are mean or annoying are always sorry in the end, so I’m sure Shackelford comes around. So, did you like the movie?
  1. I liked how the animals work together with all their show tricks to help Clifford at the end. And I liked how at one point in the movie big T-Bone’s owner, Sheriff Lewis, hears the phone ring and answers his sandwich!
  1. Good point about the bit with the animals using their tricks in the end — I liked that too. As for that gag with the sheriff answering his sandwich, I think it got the biggest laugh of the whole film!

    Was there anything you didn’t like?

  1. The plot was so complicated. Part of what I like about the "Clifford" episodes that I know is that the plots are so simple.

    I didn’t really mind this, but I’m just going to warn you that some of the characters looked different than the way they look on the TV show.

  1. Uh huh. They used more elaborate animation for the big screen than on the TV show, which I think is good, but somehow the character designs weren’t really quite right. Clifford looked like himself, but Sheriff Lewis and Mr. Bleakman and some of the others looked kind of wrong, didn’t they? I think they should have tried harder to make the characters look the same, despite the fancy animation technique.

    So, did you like the movie overall?

  1. Yeah, I guess I liked it, but I wouldn’t mind not seeing it again. I still like watching the show, though.

Nothing objectionable.