All the trailers for the film “The Sheep Detectives” over the last few months were undeniably cute and appealing, so the real McCoy was an interesting and unexpected experience.
Because although the film is indeed cute and very appealing, it is so many other things as well – realistic, humorous, surprisingly emotional and sometimes dark and frightening (the dog fight scenes…anyone else close their eyes, like yours truly, unable to watch CGI animals fight to the death?)
Thoroughly enjoyable, brilliantly filmed, a clever, funny whodunnit with a stunning cast. What more can an audience ask for?
High Jackman is perfect as the lovely George, a gentle, caring shepherd who reads murder mysteries to his flock every evening and who is himself murdered at the beginning of the film.
Said devoted flock, realising that thanks to their bedtime stories they are actually quite clued-up about murder and detection, set out to solve their beloved George’s murder, convinced that the hapless local cop can’t find out who did it. Spoiler alert, the hapless village cop (the talented Nicholas Braun) can’t figure any of it out.
Emma Thompson is fabulous as the steely solicitor, but I just wish we could’ve seen more of her. She’s too good.
Brett Goldstein (of Roy Kent fame) is the voices of the quick-tempered rams Reggie and Ronnie. He is fantastic and I swear everyone in the cinema cheered in the scene when they finally get to put their bashing and battering to good effect.
There are cute, almost “in” jokes sprinkled through the film – the evil butcher trying to count the sheep, and falling asleep, anyone? Delightful!
A delightful ensemble cast – you know, Sir Patrick Stewart voicing a sheep. That kind of star cast.
Fabulous animation.
Lots of emotion.
Loved it.