Clifford the Big Red Dog

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Clifford the Big Red Dog is available in the US on Netflix and Paramount Plus Premium, and in the UK on Paramount Plus right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 1,840 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Darby Camp is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Clifford the Big Red Dog earns its spot. The jokes in Clifford the Big Red Dog land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. As Emily struggles to fit in at home and at school, she discovers a small red puppy who is destined to become her best friend. When Clifford magically undergoes one heck of a growth spurt, becomes a gigantic dog and attracts the attention of a genetics company, Emily and her Uncle Casey have to fight the forces of greed as they go on the run across New York City. Along the way, Clifford affects the lives of everyone around him and teaches Emily and her uncle the true meaning of acceptance and unconditional love. Between them, Darby Camp and Jack Whitehall carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It hit screens in 2021. Clifford the Big Red Dog earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Clifford the Big Red Dog. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Darby Camp's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.