The Sheep Detectives Movie Review

​A herd whodunit ewe don’t want to miss regardless of age or circumstance. In fact, bring the whole flock. 
Immediately after the screening, I was asked what I felt about the film. The first thing that came to mind was, during the opening credits, when the MGM lion roars, you’re instead given a bleat (the sound produced by a sheep) from the magnificent mouth of the giant cat. Perfection. Perhaps unexpectedly, you’ll right away be enchanted into submission. This movie is filled with this sort of appealing, wholesome entertainment that the entire family will enjoy. It’s intelligent, not playing down to its audience, no matter the age.

Speaking of which, there are some dark elements, such as depictions and discussions of death. If your younger ones haven’t dealt with loss or been told about it before seeing this, it may confuse or scare them. You should consider that, along with the rating, before bringing them. If they’re that young, though, it’s likely they won’t pick up on those topics, and everyone will have a great time.

The story centers on the murder of shepherd George Hardy. Well, the sheep won’t have his murder go unsolved. He loved them and took care of them; they returned that love and will prove it by untangling the web of suspicion around this crime. That and they go crazy about unsolved crimes. He used to read crime books to them all the time, and it drove them nuts when he’d go to bed without finishing the story before they found out who the killer was. Along the way, they picked up a lot of knowledge on crime-solving. They plan to use their expertise on his behalf.

The Computer-Generated Imagery is so well-integrated, you almost, (only almost), forget it’s digital design when the animals interact with live action. The filmmakers have made the sheep look as real as possible for the people paying to see it on the big screen, which I fully recommend you do. Speaking of the younger ones, they probably won’t see the difference, and isn’t it fun immersing them in this world for a little while? Who doesn’t smile watching a little lamb bouncing around?! They got that part right. They’re darling.

The work of the voice actors in this film was captivating. No one phoned it in. Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Lily is sensitive and resolved. Chris O’Dowd is the composed Mopple. Bryan Cranston brings a somewhat abrupt, miserly persona to his Sebastian. Hugh Jackman, though not in it long, had a commanding presence, enough for you to think of him throughout. Molly Gordon was terrific. An extra special thing to watch out for is the description of God… It’s a fantastic moment. I liked the storylines centered around memory and the “winter lamb,” as well. They will hold your interest.

This film was based on the novel “Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swann, who also wrote the 2010 novel “Big Bad Wool.” I hope Craig Mazin and Kyle Balda will sink their teeth into the tale centered around the big bad guy next. My opinion of this film? When it comes down to it, “The Sheep Detectives” is a sheer delight. See it sooner rather than later.