Clifford
In this dark comedy, a mischievous ten-year-old boy named Clifford is sent to his Uncle Martin's for the weekend to get out of his father's hair. It turns out he has a dying obsession to go to Dinosaur World, a theme park near Martin's house and nothing will get in his way to get there.
The film financial setback against its mid-range budget of $19.0M, earning $7.4M globally (-61% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its compelling narrative within the comedy genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Clifford (1994) exhibits carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Paul Flaherty's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 29 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Clifford
Martin Daniels
Sarah Davis
Julian Daniels
Gerald Ellis
Main Cast & Characters
Clifford
Played by Martin Short
A manipulative and sadistic 10-year-old boy who terrorizes his uncle with increasingly dangerous schemes to get to Dinosaur World.
Martin Daniels
Played by Charles Grodin
An architect whose life is turned upside down when he agrees to watch his nephew Clifford for a weekend.
Sarah Davis
Played by Mary Steenburgen
Martin's fiancée who becomes caught in the chaos of Clifford's manipulation.
Julian Daniels
Played by Richard Kind
Martin's brother and Clifford's father who desperately needs someone to watch his son.
Gerald Ellis
Played by Dabney Coleman
Martin's boss and Sarah's father, a powerful man whose approval Martin seeks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes An elderly priest begins telling the story of Clifford to a young boy, framing the tale as a cautionary lesson about obsession and consequences.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Clifford's parents leave him with Uncle Martin in Los Angeles. Martin, a transportation engineer trying to close a major deal and maintain his engagement to Sarah, reluctantly agrees to watch his nephew.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Martin cancels the Dinosaur World trip again for a crucial work meeting. Clifford, feeling betrayed, makes a conscious decision to punish his uncle through escalating acts of sabotage rather than accept the broken promise., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Clifford's sabotage of Martin's major work presentation causes a spectacular failure. Martin loses his transportation project deal, and his boss questions his competence. The stakes escalate from inconvenience to career destruction., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 67 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Martin snaps completely, kidnapping Clifford and driving him to Dinosaur World with a sinister plan. He straps Clifford into a malfunctioning dinosaur ride, intending to terrorize the boy. Martin has lost everything - his job, his fiancée, and now his sanity., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 71 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Martin rushes to save Clifford from the malfunctioning ride, risking his own safety. In this moment, both characters recognize their shared fault - Clifford's manipulation and Martin's broken promises both led them here. They choose to save each other., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Clifford's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Clifford against these established plot points, we can identify how Paul Flaherty utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Clifford within the comedy genre.
Paul Flaherty's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Paul Flaherty films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Clifford takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Paul Flaherty filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Paul Flaherty analyses, see Who's Harry Crumb?.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
An elderly priest begins telling the story of Clifford to a young boy, framing the tale as a cautionary lesson about obsession and consequences.
Theme
Clifford's father warns that his son's obsession with Dinosaur World will lead to trouble: "When you want something too much, you'll do anything to get it."
Worldbuilding
We meet Clifford, a mischievous 10-year-old completely obsessed with visiting Dinosaur World in Los Angeles. On a flight to Hawaii with his parents, Clifford deliberately causes the plane to land in LA. His exasperated parents, at their wit's end, contact Uncle Martin to take custody of Clifford.
Disruption
Clifford's parents leave him with Uncle Martin in Los Angeles. Martin, a transportation engineer trying to close a major deal and maintain his engagement to Sarah, reluctantly agrees to watch his nephew.
Resistance
Martin establishes rules and promises to take Clifford to Dinosaur World if he behaves. Clifford meets Sarah and tries to be on his best behavior. Martin struggles to balance work responsibilities with caring for his nephew, repeatedly postponing the promised trip.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Martin cancels the Dinosaur World trip again for a crucial work meeting. Clifford, feeling betrayed, makes a conscious decision to punish his uncle through escalating acts of sabotage rather than accept the broken promise.
Mirror World
Sarah attempts to mediate between Clifford and Martin, representing the possibility of family harmony and genuine connection. She sees good in Clifford and urges Martin to keep his promises, embodying the film's theme of trust and responsibility.
Premise
Clifford executes increasingly elaborate pranks against Martin: humiliating him at a work presentation, sabotaging his romantic evening with Sarah, and making him appear unstable to colleagues. Each scheme is more outrageous than the last, with Clifford maintaining an innocent facade while Martin's frustration grows.
Midpoint
Clifford's sabotage of Martin's major work presentation causes a spectacular failure. Martin loses his transportation project deal, and his boss questions his competence. The stakes escalate from inconvenience to career destruction.
Opposition
Martin's life crumbles as Clifford's schemes intensify. Sarah breaks off their engagement after witnessing Martin's increasingly unhinged reactions. Martin's job is in jeopardy. He begins plotting his own revenge against the child, descending to Clifford's level of manipulation.
Collapse
Martin snaps completely, kidnapping Clifford and driving him to Dinosaur World with a sinister plan. He straps Clifford into a malfunctioning dinosaur ride, intending to terrorize the boy. Martin has lost everything - his job, his fiancée, and now his sanity.
Crisis
Martin watches Clifford trapped on the dangerous dinosaur ride, initially satisfied with his revenge. But as the ride malfunctions more severely, Martin realizes he's gone too far. Clifford's genuine terror forces Martin to confront what he's become.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Martin rushes to save Clifford from the malfunctioning ride, risking his own safety. In this moment, both characters recognize their shared fault - Clifford's manipulation and Martin's broken promises both led them here. They choose to save each other.
Synthesis
Martin and Clifford work together to escape the ride and the park. They have an honest conversation about their behavior. Martin apologizes for breaking his promises; Clifford apologizes for his destructive retaliation. Sarah returns, witnessing their reconciliation, and forgives Martin.
Transformation
The elderly priest concludes his story, revealing he is Clifford grown old. He has learned that obsession destroys, but forgiveness heals. The young listener, inspired, chooses a different path. Martin and Clifford are shown as a genuinely loving family.