Clifford, one of the largest pups in stories for kids, makes his way onto the big screen when a young girl named Emily (Darby Camp) loves her dog so much that he grows too big... even for the Big Apple.
We spoke with the cast of the funny and heartfelt CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG about why this character has resonated with children for generations. Darby Camp told us, “Clifford helps Emily find herself, and Emily helps Clifford be himself.” She added, that it's a big step "Not to be afraid to be out in the world and not cover up that he’s big and red."
Tony Hale, who plays Tieren, told us, "It’s really kind of this [story of] embracing differences, loving and supporting. That’s what’s going to bring growth." He added, "Celebrating differences, rather than just breaking people down."
One of the most exciting aspects of the film is getting to see Clifford run around Manhattan, and comedy-legend John Cleese (Birdwell) spoke to us about why New York plays the perfect backdrop. He said, "It’s an extraordinary city, and it’s got some wonderful settings for the movie." He added, "The heart of America is a suitable place to set a movie that has a lot of heart."
As we neared the end of our conversation, Jack Whitehall, who plays Casey, told us what he hopes audiences take away from this family film, saying, "I think there’s a lovely message at the heart of this film about inclusion and about accepting others and being kind to people that are different from you."
Check out our full interview with the cast of CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG:
CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG is in theaters now!
All images courtesy of Paramount Pictures.