'Clifford's Really Big Movie' on DVD lives up to hit TV show

By NANCY CHURNIN
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
"Clifford's Really Big Movie" is also a really sweet one.
The G-rated animated film holds no surprises, but that should suit fans of the big, red dog just fine. The movie keeps the feeling of the hit, Emmy award-winning PBS television series, which is, in turn, faithful to Norman Bridwell's classic picture book series.
The crisis that propels the plot comes from Clifford's desire to help his owner, Emily Elizabeth, and her family. He's afraid it costs too much to feed him. So when he hears about an animal talent contest that will yield the winners a lifetime supply of his favorite dog food, he runs away and joins up with a troupe determined to go for the prize.
Clifford is earnest, good-hearted and loyal. But he shows a star quality in the troupe that rubs its former star, Shackelford the High-Flying Ferret (Wayne Brady), the wrong way. As the story develops, we learn about friendship, insecurity and taking risks to achieve your dreams. In the end, there may be characters that make mistakes, but no bad guys. And the characters that make mistakes make them right in the end.
DVD extras include interviews with the cast, including the late John Ritter, who did the voice of Clifford, music videos and sing-alongs.
Ranking high on the fun-meter: Cleo's crafts, which gives easy-to-follow instructions on how to make Clifford hats and puppets and decorative "dog" collars for your favorite human or stuffed animal.