Movie Introduction"Clifford" is a 1994 American dark comedy film directed by Paul Flaherty that provides the humorous yet disturbing side of household and youth. The movie, embeded in Los Angeles, California, revolves around a naughty young boy called Clifford Daniel Daniels, played by Martin Short, along with his auntie and his uncle, portrayed by Mary Steenburgen and Charles Grodin respectively.
PlotThe film begins with Clifford, an eccentric and disruptive 10-year-old young boy, triggering havoc on a flight to Honolulu that ends up requiring an emergency situation landing in Los Angeles. His dissatisfied and long-suffering parents leave him in the care of his Uncle Martin, who is an architect, while they fly to Hawaii. Martin is initially reluctant to take Clifford in, but he ultimately complies, intending to get closer to his girlfriend Sarah Davis (Steenburgen), who loves children.
Clifford's AnticsClifford's seemingly innocent attitude instantly takes a drastic turn with a series of naughty actions and adjustments that turn Martin's life upside down. Clifford's fascination with a dinosaur-themed theme park called Dinosaur World serves as the essence of the plot. When Martin refuses to satisfy his promise to take Clifford to the theme park, the young boy turn to outrageous approaches to visit it, triggering a great deal of chaos and destruction while doing so.
Damage and ResolutionClifford, in a last devastating act, redesigns Martin's ongoing job, a large transit system, into an exact reproduction of Dinosaur World causing Martin to be fired from his task. Martin's life spins further out of control. In a desperate attempt to contain Clifford's atrocities, Martin, who is typically mild-mannered and reserved, turns to harsh discipline, that includes even establishing a fancy, distressing simulation of an earthquake at Dinosaur World to hinder Clifford's fascination.
The dark comedy climaxes as the formerly sweet-natured Martin is driven to the verge of madness by Clifford's antics and unceasing demands while losing his task and nearly his love. Nevertheless, in the end, through weaves, Clifford understands the error of his ways. Whatever is corrected without lasting damage, as is typically the case in comedies, and Clifford ultimately develops into a valuable priest characterized by his childhood experiences.
Cast and ReceptionMartin Short brilliantly performs the function of a ten-year-old hellion, in addition to Charles Grodin's impeccable performance of a distressed, outmatched uncle and Mary Steenburgen's caring and naive character. The movie also features comedic heavyweight Dabney Coleman as Gerald Ellis, Martin's boss. While Clifford got blended evaluations from critics for its quirky, eccentric design and circumstances, it has gotten a cult following for its distinct humor fixated the turbulence of youth, parenting, and domesticity.
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