‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’: Could the new movie ruin this beloved character?
Paramount Pictures and Entertainment One have finally dropped the first trailer for their upcoming family film based on the popular books, Clifford the Big Red Dog, set to hit theaters this fall in a big way. The film is a combination of live-action and computer animation, given that there were currently no great Danes willing to take on the part of Clifford the Big Red Dog. All pathetic jokes aside, this movie looks . . . interesting?
Of course, we all recall the original Clifford the Big Red Dog books by author Norman Bridwell, and will shockingly recount how Hollywood never took a stab at this furry red friend when he was at the height of his powers in the mid-90s. However, perhaps this is simply a case of “now is better than never”, as the movie theaters will be itching for more children’s movies to encourage families to return to the cinemas. Check it out!
But is Clifford the Big Red Dog really the right project to do that? Even further, will this live action/computer-animated hybrid ruin a once classic character? The trailer itself had moments of charm, but we’re still concerned that the overall campiness and odd animation might cripple this Clifford the Big Red Dog project much like the animated disaster which was last year’s Call of the Wild, starring Harrison Ford.
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Clifford the Big Red Dog is set to hit theaters on September 17th, 2021, and features a cast that includes Jack Whitehall, Darby Camp, Tony Hale, David Alan Grier, Kenan Thompson, Sienna Guillory, as well as the legendary Monty Python actor himself, John Cleese. The film will be helmed by director Walter Becker, who’s responsible for classics such as the Ryan Reynolds lead Van Wilder as well as 2007’s Wild Hogs.
The movie tells the story of young grade-schooler Casey, a simple girl who is just trying to fit in with not only her classmates but with the world around her, as her uncle Casey tries to help her navigate through the hustle & bustle of New York. The pair come across a magic pet rescuer, offering them Clifford in hopes that they’ll teach each other something of love & acceptance. Little do they know, they’re about to get a big surprise.
Many are questioning if it is too late for a Clifford the Big Red Dog movie to actually come out? Well, it may not be as popular as it once was, but one cannot deny its cultural impact on the world, stemming from its original books to cartoons, short animated features, a series of video games, as well as a giant float during the ever-popular Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Besides, family films always kill it at the box office.
2021 family movies
Lucky for Clifford, this movie won’t have the pressure of seeing whether or not people are ready to return to the movie theaters amidst a global pandemic, as they’re still quite a few months ahead of its release to determine whether or not they should move their release date. And while F9 might have proved that people are excited to return to the movies, there’s still a slew of family films out that will prove such even further.
In just a few weeks, Warner Brothers and HBO Max will release Space Jam: a new Legacy, starring LeBron James as well as the Looney Tunes in this much-anticipated sequel. And while the film does have a same-day release plan on streaming, it will be a great test to see how many families pack the theaters to see this exciting new family feature. Just as well, Disney will be releasing Jungle Cruise later in July.
We’re just excited that new movie trailers are popping up once more, even if it is for a project such as Clifford the Big Red Dog. Hopefully we can all return to the movies safely to prove why the movie theater experience is so important!
