CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG

Yes, especially with the kids. CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG doesn't reinvent anything, but it doesn't need to. It's funny, warm, and built around a message worth reinforcing at home: take care of others, help the needy, and work together. The main character even makes a biblical reference along the way.

The story is simple and the plot predictable — this is a movie made for children first, and adults may find their attention wandering. But that's a small price for something this wholesome. The only real caution is a handful of scatological jokes and toilet humor, which is mild enough for most families to shrug off.

If you want an entertaining, values-affirming outing for kids of all ages, this one delivers exactly what it promises.

Emily is starting over at a new school where she hasn't made a single friend — and some classmates have bullied her for not being as wealthy as they are. When her mom leaves for a work trip, Emily's happy-go-lucky, perpetually unreliable Uncle Casey moves in to watch her. On the way to school, the two stumble into a mysterious tent full of extraordinary animals, where Emily falls for a small red dog. She's told she can't keep him — but he ends up in her backpack anyway. By the next morning, "Clifford" is no longer small.

Three stars means this is a solidly entertaining film with real charm, even if it never reaches for greatness. The heartfelt and funny moments land, particularly for the target audience of children, but the story itself is basic and the plot beats predictable enough that grown-ups may find their minds drifting. It's a movie built to please kids first — and on that measure, it succeeds. Adults along for the ride should expect competent, pleasant family entertainment rather than anything that surprises them.

This film exalts something Scripture also prizes highly: care for the vulnerable and the value of working together. Clifford's story stresses helping people in need, looking out for one another, and community over isolation — themes that show up repeatedly as Emily learns to trust her uncle and others learn to trust her. The movie even has its main character make a direct biblical reference, a small but notable nod toward the moral framework underneath the comedy.

The story isn't without its blemishes — a strand of lying and deceit runs through the plot as characters conceal Clifford's existence — but the film doesn't hold these up as admirable; they're the friction the story works through on its way to honesty and belonging.

At its core, this is a story about a girl who feels unseen and unwanted finding a friend who changes everything about how she's treated. Scripture speaks to that same longing to be known and cared for: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).

Clifford's story is simple, sweet, and aimed squarely at kids — but the message underneath, about caring for others and working together, is one every family can stand behind. It's predictable, and adults may find their attention wandering here and there, but that's a minor complaint for a movie this wholesome. Our verdict stands: worth the trip.