Clifford's Really Big Movie is a 2004 American animated adventure film based on the classic PBS Kids TV series Clifford the Big Red Dog, itself an adaptation of the book series of the same name by Norman Bridwell. This film was directed by Robert Ramirez, produced by Scholastic Entertainment and Big Red Dog Productions, and originally released to theaters by Warner Bros. on February 20, 2004.
The film depicts a giant red Labrador Retriever named Clifford (John Ritter) running away and joining a travelling animal show known as "Larry's Amazing Animals" with his best friends. Larry Gablegobble (Judge Reinhold), the presenter of the animal show, doesn't allow animals who have owners, so they pretend their dog tags are fake. The film takes place in the fictional island of "Birdwell Island", which is the name is inspired by Norman Bridwell, the author of the books.
This was John Ritter's final theatrical film role as he died of aortic dissection on September 11, 2003. The film was dedicated to his memory, and it serves as the series finale, as no episodes aired after the film's release, though the show's spin-off Clifford's Puppy Days continued to air before concluding in 2006. It is currently the only theatrical film based on a PBS Kids TV series, not counting the films based on Sesame Street or Curious George.
The film notably depicts characters with sclera, in contrast to the books and TV series, which portrayed every character except the giant Clifford with black bead eyes.
Plot[]
In Birdwell Island, Emily-Elizabeth Howard calls for Clifford, who rushes toward her. Emily-Elizabeth says that they are going to be late for a carnival. Excited, Clifford races away with her riding on him.
Clifford visits the carnival with Emily-Elizabeth and her friends, Charley, Jetta, and Clifford's friends, Cleo, and T-Bone. Clifford, Cleo, and T-Bone are amazed by "Larry's Amazing Animals," an animal act consisting of Shackelford the High Flying Ferret, Dorothy the High Wire Heifer aka Daring Cow, Dirk the Extreme Dachshund, and Rodrigo, Chihuahua of Steel. However, despite the animals' best efforts, their show is failing due to their failed acts, but all remain oblivious of the truth as their owner and the show's host, Larry Gablegobble, expresses his pride towards their efforts. After the show, Larry tells the carnival owner, P.T., that the only way for their performances to continue is to win an upcoming Tummy Yummies Animal Talent Contest in three weeks, promising fame, fortune, and a lifetime supply of Tummy Yummies. When the trio go to collect their autographs, Shackleford attempts to convince them to join the act, believing Clifford's size and appearance would help revive the group's popularity, but they decline, unwilling to leave their owners.
The next day, Clifford overhears Mr. and Mrs. Howard talking with Mr. Bleakman. He mistakenly believes he is financially burdening his family with his expensive costs of food and decides to join the Amazing Animals in the hopes of winning food to cover his costs, with T-Bone and Cleo joining him, and promises Emily-Elizabeth while she sleeps that he will return. After crossing a seaway and escaping a town afraid of Clifford, the trio finds Larry's animals. Since Larry cannot accept animals with owners, Cleo disposes their pet tags, claiming they are to trick dogcatchers and put them in a crate for safe keeping. Larry welcomes the trio and during their next performance, Clifford saves the show, receiving a round of applause. Clifford soon begins to benefit the show as he helps the others improve their acts, such as helping Dorothy conquer her acrophobia. He becomes the star of the show, much to Shackleford's jealousy, believing Clifford has replaced him, and P.T. is proud of Larry. Meanwhile, Emily-Elizabeth, Mrs. Diller, and Sheriff Lewis discovers their dogs ran away.
After three weeks of success, Larry's Amazing Animals receives entry for the Tummy Yummies contest that will perform the next night. However, Shackleford reveals his jealousy towards Clifford, believing they are all better off without him. Hurt by Shackleford's words and missing Emily-Elizabeth, Clifford decides to leave early and return home to Birdwell Island. Cleo and T-Bone, however, convince Clifford to return, and save Larry and the others from their broken-down bus, making it to the contest. Larry's Amazing Animals wins, but the CEO of the Tummy Yummies corporation, George C. Wolfsbottom, tricks Larry into signing a contract giving him full custody of Clifford, and kidnaps him for his spoiled daughter Madison by her request.
At the hotel, Shackleford tries to convince everyone Clifford just wanted the Tummy Yummies, prompting Cleo to expose his true intentions. Shackleford realizes he was wrong about him and shows the tags to Larry, who contacts Emily-Elizabeth. Larry drives the animals to Mr. Wolfsbottom's mansion. While Larry talks to a security guard, the animals infiltrate the mansion and Shackleford breaks Clifford out of the cage, apologizing for being jealous, but T-Bone accidentally sets off the alarm and Mr. Wolfsbottom's security guards try to capture the animals. The group escapes from the guards, and Emily-Elizabeth arrives in time to claim Clifford before Mr. Wolfsbottom can get him. At first, Mr. Wolfsbottom refuses to let her keep Clifford, showing his contract, but Madison, having a change of heart, convinces her father to release Clifford upon learning about his real owner. Mr. Wolfsbottom complies and allows Clifford to go to Birdwell Island and even provides Clifford the lifetime supply of Tummy Yummies as promised in the contest and to apologize for his actions, solving the problem the Howards were dealing with earlier. The trio bid the Amazing Animals a farewell and Clifford reconciles with Shackleford. Clifford, Emily-Elizabeth, Cleo and T-Bone then return to Birdwell Island.
Cast[]
- John Ritter as Clifford, an enormous red Labrador Retriever who joins a travelling animal show named "Larry's Amazing Animals" along with his two friends, T-Bone and Cleo.
- Wayne Brady as Shackelford, a blue ferret in the animal show.
- Grey DeLisle as Emily-Elizabeth Howard, Clifford's owner.
- DeLisle also voices Caroline Howard, Emily-Elizabeth's mother.
- Jenna Elfman as Dorothy, a cow in the animal show.
- John Goodman as George Wolfsbottom, the founder and CEO of "Tummy Yummies", a dog food brand.
- Judge Reinhold as Larry Gablegobble, the ringmaster and namesake of "Larry's Amazing Animals”.
- Jess Harnell as Dirk, a dachshund in the animal show.
- Kel Mitchell as T-Bone, a yellow bulldog who joins the animal show, along with Clifford and Cleo.
- Nick Jameson as Sheriff Lewis, T-Bone's owner.
- Kath Soucie as Madison Wolfsbottom, Wolfsbottom's daughter.
- Soucie also voices Jetta Handover, one of Emily-Elizabeth's friends.
- Oren Williams as Charley, one of Emily Elizabeth's friends.
- Cree Summer as Cleo, a purple poodle who is one of Clifford's friends who joins the animal show along with Clifford and T-Bone.
- Summer also voices Ms. Diller, Cleo's owner.
- Wilmer Valderrama as Rodrigo, a chihuahua who is in the animal show.
- Cam Clarke as Mark Howard, Emily Elizabeth's father.
- Earl Boen as Horace Bleakman, Emily Elizabeth's neighbor.
- Ernie Hudson as P.T., the carnival owner, and another friend of Larry.