Clifford's Really Big Movie

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Charming and harmless. Nap while your kid enjoys.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there is some mild peril and some emotional tension. Some children may be upset when Clifford and his friends leave home or when the dogs lie about not having owners.


What's the story?

Clifford (voice of the late John Ritter in his last role) lives with Emily Elizabeth and her family on dogbone-shaped Birdwell Island. His best dog friends are T-Bone (voice of Kel Mitchell) and Cleo (voice of Cree Summer). When Clifford overhears Emily Elizabeth's parents talk to a neighbor about how much he eats, Clifford thinks he is too much of a burden for the family and decides that he, T-Bone, and Cleo should join an animal act and compete for a prize of a lifetime supply of pet Tummy Yummies. The animal act includes a trapeze artist ferret named Shackelford (voice of Wayne Brady) and a tightrope-walking cow named Dorothy (voice of Jenna Elfman). They are managed by Larry (voice of Judge Reinhold), who loves them very much but has not been able to make the act successful. Their only chance is to win that contest. But, Shackelford says, in order to do that, they need something big. Enter Clifford.


Is it any good?

 

Clifford is not just a Big Red Dog; he's a big, red phenomenon, hero of a series of books by Norman Bridwell, an animated PBS series, and even a live road show. Now he has moved (briefly) to the big screen with CLIFFORD'S REALLY BIG MOVIE. Clifford is a really, really big red dog, part of his appeal to toddlers, who live among giants and are thus drawn to huge, powerful but kind creatures who love children (like Barney). Children also like the way that Clifford explores the world around him, learning gentle lessons about getting along with others and solving problems like finding lost toys and not being afraid of a storm.

The limited animation style looks static on the big screen and the movie is too long for its intended age group even at 75 minutes. The children at the screening I attended fidgeted during the musical numbers and some seemed uncomfortable with even the mild tension in the story. The story itself is questionable, with Clifford and his friends leaving home without thinking about how upsetting that will be for their families. The song lyrics justifying it were downright unsettling at times; it cannot be wise to sing to children about how "You've got to be lost if you want to be found....It only gets better after it gets worst, happy ever after needs the scary part first." It's fine to let children know that problems can be solved, but this suggests that they cannot be happy unless they make sure something bad happens first.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how Clifford got the wrong idea by hearing only part of what Emily Elizabeth's parents said about him. What should he have done instead of leaving? Make sure children know that it is never all right for anyone to leave home without talking to the family about what is wrong.


This review was written by Nell Minow
April 9, 2008
 
Very Sweet Movie
My litte one loves this movie...I had to watch it about 2-3 times before I appreciated it, but it's worth it. Also, I always know when it ends, because my litte one comes out of the room crying the end song..."I can't come home until I go". She also loves the "You and Me" song at the beginning. Not for nothing, the music makes the movie!

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Teen, 16 years old
November 18, 2010
 
Boring movie.
I saw this movie when I was 11 and it bored me alot. Its good for little kids but not for kids over 7 because they will fall a sleep while watching it.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Made my kid cry
We bought this movie without seeing it first thinking that it's Clifford and can't be too harmful! There is a part in the movie where Clifford and the gang leave in the middle of the night to join a traveling animal show. My 3 year-old daughter cries every time she sees this (she has watched the movie 4 times) I try to skip past this part, but usually don't get to the remote fast enough. Emily Elizabeth doesn't know that Clifford is leaving and this really upsets my daughter. I would recommend this for kids older than three (maybe 4 or 5)who can understand the themes better.

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Parent of 4 and 6 year old
September 21, 2010
 
A truly good movie for little ones
My kids are pretty sensitive to scary scenes, and as their mother, *I'm* pretty sensitive to inappropriate scenes and language as well! So I was happily surprised by this movie's innocence. It succeeds without adult themes or words like "moron" in every other scene. It's great for kids who want the treat of watching a full-length movie once in awhile, but aren't ready for all those other kids' movies out there quite yet.

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Kid, 10 years old
July 30, 2010
 
*YAWN*
Big waste of time.For babies only.

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Parent of 4 and 7 year old
October 3, 2009
 
our 2 yr old loves clifford. great role model

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
So So So BORING!!!!!!!!!!! (not for 4 - )
This is the most boring movie ever created! Save your time!

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Boring
I was so bored.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Cute
This movie is cute & sweet my kids love this movie they think its a funny! movie.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Good, it's not boring. Live a little!
Come on, rapscallions, live a little! This movie is good, not boring! That Barney movie (Barney's Great Adventure) isn't lame, also good!!! Live a little, why don't you? :)

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This review was written by Nell Minow
Topics:book characters
Studio:Warner Bros.
Director:Robert Ramirez
Cast:John Goodman, John Ritter, Wayne Brady
Genre:Family and Kids
Run time:73 minutes
Theatrical release date:April 23, 2004
DVD release date:August 24, 2004
MPAA rating:G
MPAA explanation:all audiences

This review was written by Nell Minow
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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