Direction: Kyle Balda
Country: UK / USA
The Sheep Detectives might be lightweight, forgettable family entertainment, but it is also warm-hearted, cheerful, and carefree, with a pleasantly sly streak. Animator and filmmaker Kyle Balda’s film stars Hugh Jackman as George Hardy, a kind and contented shepherd living on a trail in the fictional English village of Denbrook. His peculiar habit is reading detective novels aloud to his sheep, convinced they don’t understand a single word.
Despite his mysterious and occasionally complicated relationships with a few locals, George is the kindest of shepherds, genuinely devoted to his flock, whom he considers the gentlest creatures on Earth. When he is found dead for no apparent reason, the sheep—led by Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Sebastian (Bryan Cranston), and Mopple (Chris O'Dowd)—decide to investigate the case, joining forces with the town’s well-meaning but clumsy police officer, Tim (Nicholas Braun). They soon conclude that George was murdered in cold blood. The list of suspects is long, including George’s estranged daughter, Rebecca (Molly Gordon), who returns to town for the funeral.
This is a charming family film with an Agatha Christie touch. A playful holiday diversion that, despite its goofiness and occasional hyperbole, is never tedious. I found myself caring about the clever sheep and the well-intentioned people populating the story—written by Craig Mazin and based on Leonie Swann’s novel Three Bags Full—and that is ultimately the whole point.
