Clarence's Big Break

Theatrical release poster

***Clarence's Big Break*** is a 2021 American animated adventure road comedy film produced by Cartoon Network Studios. It is directed by Mike Mitchell, and written by Andrew Overtoom, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, and produced by Keith Mack. The film is based on the 2014 television series *Clarence*, and the film takes place a year after the show's series finale, and its follow-up television special "Clarence and Jeff Go West". In the film, Clarence and Jeff had transferred to West Aberdale Elementary; and Amy Gillis had returned at some point.

The story focuses on Clarence, Sumo and Jeff on a cross-country adventure back to Aberdale with help from their new friend Carman. The film features Spencer Rothbell, Tom Kenny and Sean Giambrone as the protagonists; accompanied by supporting cast members, Isabella Niems, Kyle Arem, Katie Crown and Eric Edelstein. The film's cast includes Ariel Winter, Ian Armitage, Trey Parker, Matt Damon, Kristin Chenoweth, and Alan Tudyk.

The film was supposed to be a made-for-television film, but became theatrical instead. It was released nationwide in the United States on June 25, 2021 by Warner Bros. Pictures, along with a one-month simultaneous streaming release on HBO Max. The film received mixed reviews from critics, while the voice performances, score, and humor were praised. Regardless of the film's mixed reviews, it had grossed $105 million on a $10 million budget.

## Plot

A day has passed after Clarence and Jeff have been transferred to West Aberdale Elementary. Their second day starts off with them being put in detention with Sumo, after being tattletaled on by Andrew for sabotaging a student's science fair project so Jeff could win. Later that day, the students board the bus for a field trip to El Paso. After arriving, they stop at a gift shop. Clarence and Sumo play hide-and-seek, much to Jeff's dismay, but joins in for one game. After finding themselves, everyone has boarded the bus, leaving the boys behind. Jeff spots a bus stop, but realizes they have not brought any money with them. There, they meet a boy named Carman Ericson. Jeff informs him on their situation, which he decides to help them get home.

At Aberdale Elementary, the kids have a party in the detention room, with Mr. Reese in a sugar coma. Chelsea gets a message from Gilben, consisting a photo of the trio trying to catch up, which he was able to get during the field trip in El Paso. Upon showing the others the photo, Kimby becomes worried (revealing her secret crush on Jeff in the process). Amy gives a pep-talk to them about the boys presence helping everybody over the years. She enlists Breehn, Kimby, Dustin and Nathan to join her to find them.

At the Ericson residence, Carman had invited the boys to dinner and he introduces them to his parents. After dinner, Carman plans out how they can get back home. Meanwhile, the students get tired from walking, so they hop aboard on the back of a bus going out of town. Carman brings them to a gas station, where Carman takes a map to direct the boys back home. Clarence and Sumo take three bags of chips and soda bottles without paying (as they haven't brought any money). The cashier wakes up and sees the bags and soda gone after the four exit. He chases the boys, but they escape on the back of a moving truck. Asking who that man was, Carman says it was Burt, and he has a hate for him due to his "sordid past". Enraged by the Clarence and Sumo's stunt, Jeff blames them for getting themselves stuck in El Paso in the first place. He no longer becomes friends after the last six years he has always stood loyal to them and overlooked everything they do. Shocked, Clarence punches Jeff, resulting in the two engaging into a fight which leads to them falling off the truck. Carman jumps off as his parents will worry where he is and can no longer continue helping them get back. As Carman walks home, Clarence and Jeff then get kidnapped by Bert, but Carman escapes.

Meanwhile, Chad and Mary are informed about the boys' absence, so they go out to find them. With the Rescue Team, they stop for food, but are a little short for what they need, so they continue with the rations they had taken. Unfortunately, the four had eaten all of it during their walk out of town. Dismayed, she decides to have them jump onto whatever moving vehicle coming their way, which was a moving garbage truck, much to Kimby's disgust. Amy and the others find Sumo on his moving truck and they reunite with him, but before he can tell them about Clarence and Jeff's whereabouts, Carman arrives and tells them that they were kidnapped by Bert. Shocked, the kids form a plan to save them. They are then found by Chad and Mary at the last minute, who are then told about Clarence and Jeff's situation.

Bert drives off to Nevada to raise them as his own children, which, unfortunately, he is pursued by Sumo and others in Mary's van. Sumo jumps on the car and rescues Clarence and Jeff, but Bert stops the car before they could jump back in the van. Fortunately, Sumo gets in and hits the gas to get back to the van. The others, get the two in, while Sumo is still inside attacking Bert as his car swerves out of control, where it ends up hitting a cop car in the process. Bert is then arrested by the cops and the boys reconcile. Wondering how he found him, Carman had a tracking device hidden in his shirt a few months back for an occasion. The boys say goodbye to Carman and head home. Back in Aberdale, the students of both schools and their neighbors celebrate their return.

In a pre-credits scene, they have a dance party at a backyard. Carman and his parents visit them and join the party. It is revealed that they are dancing in Belson's backyard, as Belson yells out his window that it is 10:52pm and wants them to leave. Rather than listening, everybody resumes dancing, much to his dismay.

In a post-credits scene, Kimby, who had professed her long-time crush to Jeff during the chase, asks if he would like to start a relationship, to which she kisses her on the lips in response.

## Cast

* Spencer Rothbell as:
	+ Clarence Wendle, an optimistic and curious boy who is best friends with Jeff and Sumo. Skyler Page, creator of the franchise, voiced Clarence throughout half the first season of the series before Rothbell had taken over after Page's firing. Page voiced Clarence through archival recordings from the episode "Slumber Party".
	+ Nathan Anderson, a bulky and dim-witted kid who is friends with Belson, Dustin and Percy, and is one of the members of the "Rescue Team" to rescue the trio. In the series, he was previously voiced by Skyler Page and later Damian Haas.
* Sean Giambrone as Jeff Randell, an intelligent germophobic boy who is friends with Clarence and Sumo.
* Tom Kenny as Sumo Sumouski, an unpredictable and care free boy who is friends with Clarence and Jeff.
* Trey Parker as Carman Ericson, a troublemaker who lives in El Paso with his family. His name references *South Park* character Eric Cartman, who is a character voiced by Parker.
* Alan Tudyk as Bert Ernest, an enemy of Carman's who had been suffering his unbearable pranks.
* Matt Damon and Kristin Chenoweth as Mr. & Mrs. Ericson, Carman's parents.
* Ariel Winter as Amy Gillis, a friend of Clarence who is the leader of the "Rescue Team" to rescue Clarence, Sumo and Jeff. She was previously voiced by Ava Acres in the first season of the series.
* Ian Armitage as Breehn, currently most intelligent student in Aberdale Elementary after Jeff was transferred, and is one of members of the "Rescue Team" to rescue the trio. Breehn was originally voiced by Joshua Rush in the series.
* Isabella Niems as:
	+ Kimby Kunston, an insecure and awkward girl who is friends with Courlin and Malessica, and has a secret crush on Jeff, and is one of the members of the "Rescue Team" to rescue the trio.
	+ Darlie, a hoodie-wearing student at Aberdale Elementary.
* Kyle Arem as Dustin Conway, a tall tan-skinned kid who is friends with Belson, Nathan and Percy, and is one of the members of the "Rescue Team" to rescue the trio.
* Katie Crown as:
	+ Mary Wendle, Clarence's supportive mother and Chad's girlfriend.
	+ Melanie Baker, teacher of Aberdale Elementary.
	+ Brenda Shoop, former teacher and current secretary of Aberdale Elementary.

* Eric Edelstein as Chad Caswell, Clarence's father figure and Mary's boyfriend.
* Roger Craig Smith as:
	+ Belson Noles, a spoiled rich kid and was once a bully to Clarence, Sumo and Jeff before the trio was transferred.
	+ Percy Dahmer, a shy and worried boy.
* Quvenzhané Wallis as Chelsea Keezheekoni, a laid-back friend of the trio. Chelsea was originally voiced by Grace Kaufman in the series.
* Grace Kaufman as Megan, student of West Aberdale Elementary.
* Donovan Patton as Jim Reese, former secretary of Aberdale Elementary after he was promoted principal.
* Carlos Alazraqui as Mr. Mozer, teacher of West Aberdale.
* Seann William Scott as Andrew, student of West Aberdale Elementary, and tattle-tales on Clarence and Sumo, including Jeff.

## Production

*Clarence's Big Break* was originally intended to be a television 'special' for *Clarence* and air on Cartoon Network as a TV movie, but after wildly successful screenings, Warner Bros. decided it should be shelved and remade into a feature film.

Although Cartoon Network was worried that it would be more difficult to attract a movie-going audience without the TV show, these concerns were answered with a television special titled "Clarence and Jeff Go West", which would begin airing in order to build up hype for the upcoming film.

Mike Mitchell, director of DreamWorks Animation's *Trolls*, was chosen to direct the film. The writing crew originally consisted of Andrew Overtoom, Kelsy Abbott, Spencer Rothbell, and John Venzon; before being reduced to just Overtoom. Later on, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger (screenwriters on both Trolls and Trolls World Tour) were included as co-writers.

South Park co-creator, Trey Parker, was cast as Carman Ericson; while Matt Damon and Kristin Chenoweth voiced Carman's parents. Ariel Winter was cast as Amy Gillis; in place of Ava Acres as Amy has aged a bit during her time away from Aberdale. Spencer Rothbell, who voiced Clarence from 2015 to 2018, was cast as Nathan; replacing Damien Haas. Due to Joshua Rush aging, Breehn was voiced by Ian Armitage. Quvenzhané Wallis was cast as Chelsea Keezheekoni; in place of Grace Kaufman due to issues of a white actor voicing a black character.

## Music

### *Clarence's Big Break: Party Soundtrack*

 **Length** | 38:13

The film uses actual songs rather than parodied versions as the series had. The soundtrack includes songs featured from the film. Saba Lou re-recorded “Good Habits (and Bad)” for the end credits of the film, which was released as a single from the soundtrack.

### *Clarence's Big Break: The Movie's Score*

The score is composed by Alexandre Desplat. Two of the scores are available on the soundtrack.

## Release

The film was released in theaters on June 16, 2021 in Prescott, Arizona, followed by its initial release on June 25. It was also simultaneously released on HBO Max, in celebration of the 8th anniversary of the show's pilot. The film is accompanied by a *Steven Universe* short titled *Sadie's Gem Safari*.

### Marketing

The teaser trailer was released on October 15, 2020, posted on the Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube channels. A second teaser trailer was released on February 11, 2021. Twelve sets based on events from the TV series, including a series of Blind Bag figures (consisting of Clarence, Jeff, Sumo, Mary, Chad, Amy, and Sumo in his West Aberdale clothes) from K'NEX and two Kubros of Clarence, Jeff and Sumo from Mega Construx are released for the film.

Other promotional tie-ins included character posters.

### Home media

*Clarence's Big Break* was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 12, 2021. One of the special features includes a "Back to School" info video with Jeff, while the Blu-ray release includes two episodes from the original series "Pretty Great Day with a Girl" and "Sumo Goes West". Also included on the Blu-ray release is *Sadie's Gem Safari*, a short film based on *Steven Universe* that simultaneously released alongside the film.

The Blu-ray, audio-wise, uses a Dolby TrueHD track with 7.1 lossless surround sound rather than a DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby Atmos track like Warner's recent releases; this makes it Warner Bros. Home Entertainment's first Blu-ray release of a feature film with a Dolby TrueHD track since the 75th Anniversary release of *Gone with the Wind* (1939) and the first WBHE release with a Dolby TrueHD supporting 7.1 surround sound since the Blu-ray release of New Line Cinema's *Friday* (1995).

## Reception

### Box office

The film started its opening weekend at $13 million; making back its budget, then grossed $39.4 million during July, followed by $53 million the next in August. On its final month in theaters, it had grossed $105 million.

### Critical response

Review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 48% approval rating based on the 90 reviews, and its average rating is 5/10. The critical consensus reads, "The irrelevant *Clarence* manages to receive a feature film with talented cast members and feels generally like an early 2000s movie, but some think it wasn't worth the trip." Metacritic, assigned the film a score of 54 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "mixed-or-average reviews". CinemaScore gives the film a "B" on its A+ to F scale.

## Notes

1. "Kids in America" is only heard in the theatrical trailer.

## Trivia

* The film's director Mike Mitchell and co-writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger had both worked together on the DreamWorks Animation film *Trolls* (2016).
* The film's editor John Venzon has also written and edited *Storks*, another Warner Bros. animated film that also starred Katie Crown.
* This is Matt Damon's third role in a traditionally animated feature film after *Titan A.E.* (2000) and *Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron* (2002).
* This is Trey Parker's second role in a family film after *Despicable Me 3* (2017).
	+ Carmen Ericson, Parker's character in the film, references the name of Parker's *South Park* character Eric Cartman.
* Alan Tudyk had previously guest starred in the series in the episode "Plane Excited"; this makes it his second role in the *Clarence* franchise.
* While the series cast members have reprised their roles in the film, there are only three characters that are voiced by new and different actors:
	+ Ariel Winter takes over as Amy Gillis, replacing Ava Acres, as the character has now reached the age of 13.
	+ Iain Armitage was cast as Breehn due to Joshua Rush, the character's previous voice actor, having aged.
	+ Spencer Rothbell, voice of Clarence, currently voices Nathan in this film rather than Damien Haas in the series for the sake of Haas' commitments on *Smosh*.
	+ Quvenzhané Wallis takes over as Chelsea Keezheekoni, replacing Grace Kaufman, in the wake of the George Floyd protests, which took place on May 26, 2020.
* Unlike the series, the film uses licensed music rather than parodied versions.
* "Blister in the Sun" by Violent Femmes, which was one of the songs the series homaged as "Lizard in the Sunshine" in the episode "Lizard Day Afternoon", was used in the beginning of the film.
* *Clarence's Big Break* was originally meant to be a made-for-TV movie until the film was reworked into a 89 minute theatrical film.
* Like *Steven Universe: The Movie*, this is the second Cartoon Network Studios film to show blood; Jeff gets a bloody nose after Clarence angrily punches him in the face.
* The film marked the first Cartoon Network film to feature the updated blue shield variant of the Warner Bros. Pictures fanfare.
* While the film's animation was handled by Saerom Animation like the series, the vehicles and panning shots in the film were animated with cel-shaded computer-animation.

## Transcripts

### Main

To see the main transcript of the film, click here.

### Trailers

To see the transcript for the trailers of the film, click here.

## Credits

*Main article: Clarence's Big Break/Credits*