Clifford

Directed by Paul Flaherty, Clifford follows Martin Short’s title figure, a rambunctious 10-year-old boy, as he wreaks havoc on the orderly life of his high-strung uncle (Charles Grodin’s Martin Daniels). It’s a seriously oddball premise that’s employed to hit-and-miss yet mostly watchable effect by Flaherty, as the filmmaker, armed with a script by Jay Dee Rock and Bobby Von Hayes, delivers a perpetually silly endeavor that’s elevated (and then some) by Short’s committed and thoroughly captivating performance – with the actor’s far-from-subtle efforts going a long way towards smoothing over the thin narrative’s bumps and lulls. There’s little doubt, as well, that the movie benefits substantially from the irresistibly antagonistic chemistry between Short and Grodin’s respective characters, and while the whole thing never becomes quite as compelling (or laugh-out-loud funny) as one might’ve hoped, Clifford, which builds towards a truly unhinged (and satisfying) climax), generally comes off as a watchable piece of work that never entirely wears out its welcome. (The 90 minute runtime has a lot to do with this, ultimately.)

**1/2 out of ****