User Reviews

Horrible plot horrible script I mean a 40 yr old man playing a kid...,,,, But yet short somehow makes this work it's a light hearted comedy that I found Rather enjoyable you need to not be so uptight and just be like what the hell To enjoy this movie if you can't do that if you take yourself to seriously you won't like it And you be like a few reviewers on here and hate on the movie Be warned it is normal to loathe the character of Clifford Your either gonna love the character of Clifford or want to kill him lol

While this wasn't quite the disaster that I was expecting, it is still a weak comedy, and also a rather annoying film. It was a competent film, and I can even admit that I laughed on occasion, but the negatives far outweigh the positives. Martin Short was staggeringly hateful in this movie, and even though I suppose that was the whole point, it really is hard to be entertained when the main character is SO irritating. Personally, I would have loved to see his character get decapitated at the end, for it would have turned the film into a feel-good movie. Or better yet, he could have been killed off in the beginning.

This movie is ingenious: an absolute masterpiece. One of the smartest and most original movies I have seen in a long time. Martin Short in the best role of his career playing a conniving, manipulative, all-around brat and absolutely shining while he does it. No one else could pull this off so effectively and convincingly. Charles Grodin and Mary Steenburgen are also excellent and at their finest. A MUST SEE!!!!

I like Martin Short. I like Charles Grodin. I hate this movie. A waste of talent. Btw RIP Charles Grodin. Midnight Run, now THAT'S a good movie.

This movie, which I cannot even bring myself to name, is the single greatest crime against humanity, that has ever been committed. I saw this movie in the theaters, and to this day I still wake up in cold sweats from the nightmare of that night. Make no mistake about it, this is the WORST thing ever put on film. Martin short is sooo annoying you want to see his character destroyed in the most painful way possible, and the rest of the characters are beyond one dimensional. There are no laughs to be found in this movie, it is an insult to all your senses, and you die a little inside from watching it. The fact that some people actually like this abomination of a movie, only tells me that they must have grown up under power lines, or that they like to hurt them selves. This movie must be avoided at all costs, it is the single worst event in my life, please run away if you see it any where, anyone defending this movie, must be brought in for psychological treatment, there is no defending this garbage.

I just watched this movie on TV and came here to see what other people think about it. I was very much shocked to see that the lead actor Martin Short was 40+ when this movie was made. He is playing a 10 year old brat in this movie and I got to say he has done very well at that. Though he doesn't quite look like a 10 year old but he surely comes close to it. This is a movie about a 10 year old boy, Clifford, who is very mischievous and raises hell everywhere he goes. Sick of his mischiefs, his parents leave him with his Uncle who is a middle-aged man and is trying to convince her fiancée that he likes kids and that's the reason why he agrees to keep Clifford with him. As the movie goes on, Clifford completely destroys his Uncle's life with his pranks because he didn't take him to the local Dinosaur Park. Although the ending wasn't the best but most of the movie is really good. This may not be the best movie you'll ever see but its a nice one to watch with your family. I think kids will really like it. It is really hilarious. I was very surprised to see the IMDb user rating for this movie being a moderate 4.2 and that's why I thought I should stand up for this movie. I think its far better than what the rating suggests.

Clifford is a dreadful film. The first real problem is taking an almost middle aged man and passing him off as a ten year old. Seriously? Get this, we (the audience) see a 40 year old but the other movie characters see a ten year old. Yeh. Then they angle the camera to make him look a foot shorter than all of the "real" grownups around him. The next major problem is the other characters in the movie. Major annoying over-actors, always yelling everything they say in such a strained, exaggerated, draining way, especially Clifford's dad Richard Kind, Clifford's uncle Charles Grodin, and other characters in the movie. Clifford himself also took part in the exaggerated yelling along with other horrible qualities he had. Richard Kind can't handle his son's behavior anymore and begs his brother Grodin to take him, then when Grodin says yes, Richard shows the utmost relief. It doesn't take too long though for Grodin to feel the same way Richard did.

Then there's a big problem with Clifford himself (played by Martin Short). Even if he wasn't playing a boy, he is a creepy freak. He (as Roger Ebert put it) fawns at people like a horny spaniel. Especially Charles Grodin's (Clifford's uncle's) wife. He sings in a loud, embarrassing way in public. Several times (such as screeching "San Francisco, open your Golden gate" at the top of his lungs then yelling in a high pitched feminine voice "ahhhhhhh" while running through the train station with his arms out. Very painful experience watching that). Also, Clifford is maliciously evil and vindictive. He literally shuts off a commercial airplane's engines causing it to quickly drop 10,000 feet nearly crashing (who finds that amusing?). He plots an elaborate scheme to frame Grodin for planting a bomb. He freaks out mischievously several times such as yelling "I want a whole gang of chocolate!" after Grodin says he can't take him to Dinosaur world. He had a freaked obsession with wanting to go to Dinosaur world, which is actually the reason he shut off the plane's engines. You would think him doing that would cause him more than just being thrown off the plane, he should've been locked up, he seriously endanged a couple hundred people's lives.

And then there's the way Clifford talks, with the looks on his face, it made me cringe (and that's bad enough without him saying things like "my no-no place" and many other embarrassing things) Then, if that's not all enough, there are some awful jokes thrown in, such as a couple of transvestites showing up right after a character says "I can spot a phony a mile away". Terrible, terrible movie.

There was only one moment of the film that wasn't horrible, only one semi amusing moment. Clifford kept saying all throughout the film " bestest looking this" or "bestest looking that" about something or someone. When Clifford was hanging from a ledge during a roller coaster accident, and was asking Grodin to save him, Grodin says "I'm trying to figure what horrors you'll release into the world if I do save you. What if you got your hands on plutonium? (Imitating Clifford) look at me! I made the bestest looking nuclear bomb in the whole world!" That was the one funny moment in a film of every, and I mean every other moment being horrid. Even with that one funny bit, I still only gave this film one star. Without it, I would've given it a zero.

In this funny, but slightly crude film, Martin Short uses his young face and tricky camera angles, I think, to play the part of a ten year old boy. What is really funny is that he is obviously not a ten year old boy, yet he is perfectly capable of the role due to his bizarre sense of humour. This film showed on a television station that normally shows Disney B movies. Movies released in the 90's are not really my thing, but this one was really cute! There were a few offensive words and crude moments ( such as one reference to a "secret space" and other jokes about pedophiles ) but if these go in one ear and out the other, than it won't be a problem for you. Martin Short has the most hilarious face, capable of contorting to give a weird, childish look that creeps out even the on screen characters. The opening and closing shots reminded me of "Boy's Town" and gives us a chance to see Martin Short under layers of latex for his role as an elderly priest.

All in all, not a bad effort.

Am I one of only a handful of people who think Martin Short is hysterical? The only way a goofy plot like the one in this film could possibly work is if the lead actor was a true genius of comedy, a man among Canadians, a charming elf-like creature I like to call Martin Shortman. Martin Short relies heavily on facial movement and voice tonal changes to make his character Clifford funny. Through the annoyance of his dear Uncle Martin surely we all can get along and laugh together as a family of opinionated movie viewers just looking for a good time, a few chuckles now and then to make us forget that we have low paying jobs and live in shoddily built ranch-style homes overlooking well built but poorly placed sewage treatment plants. Bottom line is that if you really like Martin Short then you will think this movie is hilarious, if you don't then don't waste your time because you can't have it back.

I saw Clifford for the first time yesterday. For the most part I thought it was odd. Martin Short plays Clifford, who is one of the most annoying characters ever. Seriously, Clifford does not at all look like a ten year old as SHort is playing him. It just is odd how Short is playing a ten year old. Also there really is no explanation why he is such a jerk. He just is totally obnoxious for no reason at all, I don't get it. I think Martin Short is OK, but this is just a bizarre performance that left me wondering. Some parts of this film were funny, but mainly this movie had odd humor that did not really stand out. The only thing that stood out was the entire Dinosaur Land scene at the end. Mary Steenberg once again showed that she is one of the most boring actresses ever and one that ADDS NOTHING TO ANY FILM SHE HAS EVER BEEN IN!!! Seriously, she was bad in Philadelphia, bad in Elf, bad in Back to the Future Part 3, bad in Gullivers Travels, and bad in this film. I thought the character of Uncle Martin in this film was odd also. Seemed a little bi polar at times, angry at parts and happy at others. BUt he did bring up the interesting fact that Clifford can not even act like a normal kid. So this film had an annoying main character, maybe the most annoying ever, bad humor, and Mary Steenberg. Not recommended.

This work falls in there with movies like Howard the Duck, Oliver Stone's Alexander, Cherry 2000, and Taylor's Cleopatra in that tons of money was spent in the making, only to have the audiences reject the work.

None of the works named stunk, indeed, there are endearing moments and qualities to every ONE of those works, but as far as average audiences were concerned, they were dismal disappointments, for one reason or another. Clifford is generally considered to have fallen into that category.

Martin Short portrays a 90 year old priest, and a 10 year old holy terror of a child who will do anything he can (and what he can do is formidable) to get to Dinosaur World to fulfill his dream.

I found this work amusing. I was highly entertained by Clifford's constant, non-stop, one track obsession and his total lack of that little voice which tells most people that their inappropriate actions are a BAD idea! It makes me thankful I'm not raising children at this point in my life; that part of my life is done, so I can appreciate the humor herein.

I do not understand why this work is generally despised, other than Clifford IS a holy terror. He is the epitome of the Demon Seed. But the work is endearingly quirky, amusing, and entertaining.

I liked it and own it. It rates a 7.8/10 from...

the Fiend :.

Not sure how Martin Short pulls it off playing a-hole child but somehow it just works?! One should drink for every horrid thing he does. The only thing that bothered me is the non stop loud musical score if can call that. It's like, gotcha look, aha,mild jump scare etc..... That was almost whole duration of movie. I hope since this was 80's 90's thing has stopped in today times. 6/10

Seriously, when I was a kid in the 1990s, I thought this movie was about a bog red dog according to the film's name and a huge dog house. Instead, it's about a freakin' grown man portraying as an annoying 10 year old boy who gets into trouble. And to think "Problem Child" was obnoxious. Take my word for this: DON'T BOTHER!

This is one of the most disturbing movies I have ever seen. That makes it just more than a bad movie. Martin Short could be seen, as Clifford, as an incarnation of the devil. Clifford is so evil sometimes that it verges on the scary. The look in his eyes is very singular.

My favorite scene is when Charles Grondin tells Clifford :

"Can't you just act like a human boy for a second here. Look at me like a real person. You can't do it more than few second. Look at me like a human boy!"

And Clifford that's not able to look human! AH!!! Pure madness!

I really don't know why this movie was made, but I admire the crazy people who dared to follow their weird instincs.

I worked on the advertising for this film so I saw it many times.

The fact that many people seem to find it funny is chilling. It is lame, witless distasteful, poorly staged and acted and generally nasty looking. The strange writhings of Martin Short are deeply embarrassing and at no point can he possibly be mistaken for a 10 year old boy.

If this was an on purpose plot point it is never developed or exploited. Instead you are expected to believe in this grown up (though odd) man as a juvenile, for no other reason than the film makers pretense that that is what he is.

About as funny as a collapsed lung. Why it was ever made is yet another Hollywood mystery.

When I mention this film as the answer to the question "What's the worst film you have ever seen?" I usually have to explain my answer a little. I hate this film so much because of the way it totally fails to live up to its potential. Martin Short playing a young boy should have been funny but it was dismal. I had heard that this was a bad film but had just thought that it had to be better than I was hearing. It wasn't and I am scared for life after putting myself through this misery. Charles Groden was horrible as well but then I find him kind of wooden and unbelievable in most of his roles.

Clifford (1994) C-90 min. D: Paul Flaherty. Martin Short, Charles Grodin, Mary Steenburgen, Dabney Coleman, Richard Kind, Ben Savage. Very funny Martin Short vehicle features him as a 10-year old boy who makes life a living hell for his uncle during a visit. The film falls flat in some areas, but Short is hilarious and pulls off the role with pure perfection. This was filmed in 1991 and sat on the shelf for 3 years. RATING: 6 out of 10. Rated PG for slapstick violence and strong language.

The only reason I watched this whole thing through was it just had to get better at some point. It HAD to! There was just too much talent on the screen for this mess to keep stumbling along at low speed. Martin Short stars as the title character who is apparently a ten year old boy. At least he is supposed to be. Anyway, he is truly a monster. He plays a series of cruel practical jokes on his uncle played by Charles Grodin. Grodin has agreed to watch the little brat for whatever reason I don't quite recall. He hopes that taking care of the little tyke will impress Mary Steenburgen whom he is intending to marry. Grodin is basically one of those long-term bachelors (like yours truly) who waited until practically middle age to settle down. Hopefully bonding with the young man will show his lady that he is in fact a good catch.

The first time you look at Martin Short, and accept the premise that he is in fact a little boy, you begin to expect to laugh. But the filmmakers must have thought the premise was enough, since they just don't give Clifford and his uncle enough funny things to do. Most of the pranks are cruel, and a few are admittedly funny. The only real laughs I had were watching Grodin's reactions to some of the pranks. He was a really talented guy, but it looks like he mostly retired after this came out. Hard to blame him. There is a stupid subplot involving Dabney Coleman trying to win Steenburgen over and eventually almost trying to rape her in the back of a limo. Ha ha. The film has a cheap look to it, and its no surprise to learn it was actually filmed in 1990. This was during a bleak period of American cinema when even some of the better films were just lazily made. The climax of this film takes place at a Dinosaur themed amusement park that looks incredibly cheap and mostly made with cardboard and matte paintings. The musical score is a generic up-beat, by-the-numbers deal that sounds like something Danny Elfman would have wadded up and thrown in the garbage in a fit of despair.

The stars of this film deserved something better, and I have no doubt that better writers and a better director could have had something here. But as it stands, Clifford is an unfunny, mean-spirited mess. And a big waste of talent. 3 of 10 stars.

The Hound.

This is the absolute funniest movie Martin Short has ever made (to date)! Hilarious from beginning to end! (BTW, Martin Short plays the funniest priest in the history of film besides the funniest child character ever!) Charles Grodin is perfect as Clifford's poor frustrated uncle! Dabney Coleman as Charles Groden's boss is ever-so creepy and plays the part to the hilt! And this is our fave movie with Mary Steenbergen - she is sweet, as always, but allowed to be funny, too. The writing, directing, editing, clever photography (to make Clifford/Martin Short look small) is 100% pure genius! We've watched this movie over and over and over through the years and cannot rate it high enough! The dialog is more-than hilarious and we quote lines from this film all the time. If you have a sense of humor and like to laugh, this movie is a MUST SEE! 100% GENIUS!! Martin Short is a comic genius!!!

I have no idea why people are giving this movie bad review (mostly women I've noticed)... fine, you don't like it... but if this is 'the worst movie EVER' then I'm Jesus Christ. There are so many bad movies out there (some big budget) that people are afraid to criticize so they attack the lesser know and in some cases lesser understood films just because its easy.

Lets get 1 thing straight, this isn't an Oscar winner, its by no means in the same league as some of the great movies in the comedy genre... but its not a bad movie! It has its moments both exciting and dull the acting is consistent and each character's personality is easily recognizable by the audience. There are some decent reviews of the movie in the user comments section.

The only point i have to make is the recommendation at the bottom of the title page. 'If you like this title, we also recommend... (wait for it...) the 3 ninja's??? come on now! Sort it out! If you like the Shawshank Redemption you'd like the Green Mile or Escape from Alcatraz but what on earth is 3 ninja's doing as a recommendation to those who enjoyed this or those who would like to know what movie this resembles.

If you've not seen this and wanna know what movies its like... or have seen it and wanna see movies like it watch either Rushmore or Uncle Buck or in extreme cases Raising Arizona (for the same zany comedy purposes)

As for a rating for clifford... hmmm... 6/10 or ***

I went to see this film in the theater when it was first released. Thankfully, I went to a matinee and didn't spend too much money on this film.

I don't mean to sound over the top about this film - but it was without a doubt the worst film I have ever seen. Oh, I've seen bad films before, but even they had SOME redeeming qualities. Not "Clifford".

This comedy was anything but funny, in fact the longer the film went on, the more angry and frustrated I got. Martin Short was completely unfunny (perhaps not as much his fault as the writer's) and Charles Grodin was insufferable with acting that was less animated than an Al Gore speech.

If there is a God, and I'd like to think there is, I can only ask that everyone who was involved with this film in any way - actors, producers, writers, distributors, key grips, best boys, even the popcorn salesmen employed by the theater at the time the movie was playing - should burn in the pits of Gehenna for all eternity --- and made to watch "Clifford" again, and again, and again, and again.....

Martin Short delivers a brilliant performance in this underrated movie. I don't understand why this movie got such bad reviews. It is pure comedy and organic delivery of great humor. I grew up watching this movie and will always recommend it to anyone looking for a good laugh. For the people who rated it so low, I believe you need a crash course in good humor.

Sometimes when they hold a movie from release for a year or so, it's to build up audience anticipation.

Other times, it's because the studio went bankrupt.

Still other times, everyone involved just tries to cut their losses.

Then, there's "Clifford", which should have been held in a blender. On liquefy.

I have absolutely no idea what anyone was thinking when they came up with the idea for this: Martin Short as a ten year-old? If you cannot picture this, then you must not have seen this movie. If not, you're much wiser than I.

Martin Short is funny. Really, I mean it. Catch reruns of SCTV or any of his talk show appearances. He catches a moment and runs with it. He's a genius. Couldn't judge it by "Clifford".

And Short isn't the only casualty. There's also Charles Grodin, Mary Steenburgen, Dabney Coleman - good actors all (Steenburgen even won an Oscar for "Melvin and Howard"!!!!) and all very accomplished comedians. Again, this isn't a good place to start a retrospective on their careers.

Every moment (and I mean every single last minute miniscule one of them) falls flat and stays on the floor like a two ton lead weight.

Watching this movie is akin to having your car totaled by a herd of elephants: you can't believe it once you see it, and the results are a disaster.

Like that one? Good, that's the funniest thing that can possibly be connected with "Clifford".

One star.

No wonder Grodin retired.