Clifford's Really Big Movie

***Clifford's Really Big Movie*** is a 2004 American animated adventure film loosely based on the series of children's books drawn and written by Norman Bridwell and more based on its TV series. It was released in theaters on April 23, 2004.

Due to John Ritter's death in 2003: A Back up! the film and Getting to Know You serves as the series finale to *Clifford the Big Red Dog*, as What if 10 new episodes aired after the film's release. Although, the show's spin-off *Clifford's Puppy Days* continued to air before concluding in 2006. The show would be remade with the 2019 reboot.

## Plot

The film begins in Birdwell Island, while Emily Elizabeth calls for Clifford. She hears a rustling in the bushes, and Clifford pops up and rushes toward her. Emily Elizabeth tells Clifford that they are going to be late for a carnival. Clifford is excited and then races away.

Clifford visits the carnival with Emily Elizabeth, Charley, Jetta, Cleo and T-Bone. Clifford, Cleo, and T-Bone are amazed by an animal act known as Larry's Amazing Animals, consisting of Shackelford the High Flying Ferret, Dorothy the High Wire Heifer aka Daring Cow, Dirk the Extreme Dachshund, and Rodrigo, Chihuahua of Steel. However, despite the animals' best efforts, their show is failing due to their respective failed acts, but all remain oblivious of the truth as their owner and the show's host, Larry Gablegobble, expresses his pride towards their efforts. After the show, Larry tells the worrisome carnival owner, Peter Tiberius "P.T." Jones, that the only way for their performances to continue is to win a Tummy Yummies Animal Talent Contest, promising fame, fortune, and a lifetime supply of Tummy Yummies. When Clifford and his friends go to collect their autographs, Shackleford attempts to convince them to join the act, believing Clifford's size and appearance would help revive the group's popularity, but they decline, unwilling to leave their owners.

The next day, Clifford overhears the Howards talking with Mr. Bleakman. He mistakenly believes he is financially burdening the family and decides to join the Amazing Animals, with T-Bone and Cleo joining him. After escaping a town afraid of Clifford, the group finds Larry's animals. Since Larry cannot accept animals with owners, they dispose their pet tags, claiming they are to trick dogcatchers. Larry happily welcomes Clifford and his friends and during their next performance, Clifford manages to save the show, receiving a great round of applause and sparking jealousy from Shackleford. Clifford soon begins to benefit the show as he manages to help the others improve their acts, such as helping Dorothy conquer her acrophobia. He immediately becomes the star of the show, much to Shackleford's jealousy, believing Clifford has replaced him, and the newspapers are sent to P.T., who is proud of Larry. Meanwhile, Emily Elizabeth discovers Clifford ran away.

Larry's Amazing Animals finally receives entry for the Tummy Yummies contest that will perform the next night. However, when Clifford goes to find Shackleford and reveals the news, Shackleford reveals his jealousy towards Clifford, believing they are all better off without him. Hurt by Shackleford's words and missing Emily Elizabeth, Clifford decides to leave early and return home to Birdwell Island to reunite with Emily Elizabeth. Cleo and T-Bone join him, but manage to convince Clifford to return and consequently, they save Larry and the others from their broken-down bus, making it to the contest. Larry's Amazing Animals wins, but the CEO of Tummy Yummies, George Wolfsbottom, tricks Gablegobble into signing a contract giving him full custody of Clifford and kidnaps him for his spoiled daughter Madison.

At a hotel, Shackleford tries to convince everyone Clifford just wanted the Tummy Yummies, prompting Cleo to expose his true intentions. Shackleford realizes he was wrong about him and shows the tags to Larry, who contacts Emily Elizabeth. Larry drives the animals to Wolfsbottom's mansion. While Larry talks to a security guard, the animals infiltrate the mansion and Shackleford breaks Clifford out of his cage. Shackleford apologizes to Clifford for being jealous, but T-Bone accidentally sets off the alarm and Wolfsbottom's security guards try to capture the animals. The group narrowly escape from the security guards and Emily Elizabeth arrives in time to claim Clifford before Wolfsbottom can get him. Wolfsbottom refuses to let her keep Clifford, showing his contract, but Madison, having a change of heart, convinces her father to release Clifford. Wolfsbottom complies and allows Clifford to go to Birdwell Island where he truly belongs. Cleo and T-Bone bid the Amazing Animals a farewell and Clifford reconciles with Shackleford. The film ends with the dogs and Emily Elizabeth returning home.

## Cast

* John Ritter as Clifford, an enormous red Labrador Retriever who joins a travelling animal show named "Larry's Amazing Animals" along with his two friends, T-Bone and Cleo.
* Wayne Brady as Shackelford, a blue ferret in the animal show.
* Grey DeLisle as Emily-Elizabeth Howard, Clifford's owner.
	+ DeLisle also voices Caroline Howard, Emily-Elizabeth's mother.
* Jenna Elfman as Dorothy, a cow in the animal show.
* John Goodman as George Wolfsbottom, the founder and CEO of "Tummy Yummies", a dog food brand.
* Judge Reinhold as Larry Gablegobble, the ringmaster and namesake of "Larry's Amazing Animals”.
* Jess Harnell as Dirk, a dachshund in the animal show.
* Kel Mitchell as T-Bone, a yellow bulldog who joins the animal show, along with Clifford and Cleo.
* Nick Jameson as Sheriff Lewis, T-Bone's owner.
* Kath Soucie as Madison Wolfsbottom, Wolfsbottom's daughter.
	+ Soucie also voices Jetta Handover, one of Emily-Elizabeth's friends.
* Oren Williams as Charley, one of Emily Elizabeth's friends.
* Cree Summer as Cleo, a purple poodle who is one of Clifford's friends who joins the animal show along with Clifford and T-Bone.
	+ Summer also voices Ms. Diller, Cleo's owner.
* Wilmer Valderrama as Rodrigo, a chihuahua who is in the animal show.
* Cam Clarke as Mark Howard, Emily Elizabeth's father.
* Earl Boen as Horace Bleakman, Emily Elizabeth's neighbor.
* Ernie Hudson as P.T., the carnival owner, and another friend of Larry.

## Production

The film marked John Ritter's last film role after his death on September 11, 2003, several months before its release, though he had fully completed his voice work for the project during the summer hiatus from his sitcom *8 Simple Rules*. The film was dedicated in his memory. It has no continuity with the later live-action 2021 film produced and distributed by Paramount.

*Clifford's Really Big Movie* was the last Warner Bros. Pictures film to utilize hand-drawn/traditional animation until 2018's *Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.*

### Home media

The film was released on DVD and VHS on August 24, 2004 by Warner Home Video. In September 2015, it was re-released by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. It is also available through Prime Video as part of its PBS Kids output deal.