The massive split between the 58% critic score and the 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes tells you exactly what kind of movie this is. Critics are looking for Paddington 2—a film with soul, visual wit, and a script that works for all ages. Clifford the Big Red Dog isn't trying to do that. It’s trying to be a distraction for a first-grader on a rainy Tuesday, and by that metric, it’s a total success.
The "Kaiju for Kids" Appeal
While the plot is a standard "save the animal from the bad guys" setup, the movie works best when it leans into the sheer absurdity of a house-sized dog in Manhattan. Watching Clifford try to play fetch with a human in a giant inflatable bubble or hide in a tiny apartment provides the kind of physical comedy that kills with the under-10 crowd.
The CGI is where things get a little weird. Clifford doesn't look like a cartoon; he looks like a real puppy that someone scaled up 1000% and dyed "fire engine" red. It’s a bit uncanny at first, but kids usually stop noticing after the first ten minutes. If your household is currently rotating through dog movies for kids, this one lands squarely in the "fun but forgettable" category—think Beethoven but with a much higher grocery bill.
The Uncle Casey Factor
Most of the human friction comes from the "irresponsible uncle" trope. He’s the guy who lets the kid stay up late and eat junk food, which makes him the perfect foil for a giant, chaotic dog. The movie relies heavily on this dynamic to keep the energy up while the "Evil Genetics Corp" plot slowly chugs along in the background.
The corporate villain stuff is the weakest link. It’s the kind of generic "we want to study his DNA" plot that has been a staple of family movies since the 90s. It’s not scary, but it is boring for adults. You’ll find yourself checking the time whenever the suit-and-tie characters are on screen, waiting for the movie to get back to the giant red dog knocking over hot dog stands.
Where This Fits in Your Rotation
If you’re looking for the absolute best family comedy movies to watch right now, Clifford might not be at the top of the list, but it’s a solid "B-tier" option for when you’ve already exhausted the Pixar catalog. It’s safer than Marley & Me (no one dies) and more modern than the original cartoons.
The 5.9 IMDb score is a fair reflection of the quality: it’s a perfectly average movie that benefits from a high-concept premise. It won't spark deep dinner table conversations, but it will keep a six-year-old glued to the couch. If your kid is in that sweet spot where they still believe their stuffed animals might come to life, the magic here will land perfectly. For everyone else, it’s just a decent way to kill an afternoon on Paramount+ or Hulu.
