|
Director Robert C. Ramirez upgrades the children’s animated TV series (based on illustrator Norman Birdwell’s books) about a gigantic red mongrel to the big screen. The eponymous dog (voiced by the late John Ritter) is a house-sized, happy-go-lucky lunk who’s blessed with the ability to understand humans but somehow can’t communicate with them. The plot is spurred by economics: Clifford is eating his owners out of house and home, so he runs away to join the circus with the hope of winning an animal talent show where the grand prize is a lifetime supply of dog food. Along the way, he becomes a moneymaking anomaly and falls into the hands of an avaricious tycoon (John Goodman). At the heart of the adventure lies the soulful bond between Clifford and his distressed owner, the pint-sized Emily Elizabeth (Grey DeLisle). The colorful assortment of animal performers, most notably Dorothy "the high-wire heifer" (Jenna Elfman), provide the comic relief. For the most part, Ramirez plays it safe: there’s no dicy humor for adults and no harrowing moments to upset the kids, just a pleasant yet forgettable diversion for the whole family. (73 minutes)
BY TOM MEEK
|
