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I never thought a movie about a flock of talking sheep solving a very human crime would be this fun, but here we are. “The Sheep Detectives” proves that with a strong story, a great cast, and some very cute sheep, you can create a real crowd-pleaser. But it wasn’t initially the adorable animals that caught my attention. It was the fact that the film was written by Craig Mazin, the mind behind “Chernobyl” and “The Last of Us” series. So it felt like quite a wild shift into this much fluffier genre.
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars
- Verdict:
- Where to watch: "The Sheep Detectives" premieres in U.S. theaters on May 8
“The Sheep Detectives” follows a flock of unusually clever sheep who, after their shepherd is found dead, set out to solve the mystery using lessons from the detective stories he once read to them. As they visit a quaint English village, they uncover plenty of secrets and potential suspects. Naturally, the premise sounds quite bonkers on paper, but this is a truly funny film that thrives on such an unusual mystery. It’s also based on the 2005 novel “Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story” by Leonie Swann, which became an international bestseller.
I also have to admit that I’m not usually the one to watch family-friendly movies (I’m a horror nerd), so you can imagine my pleasant surprise when “The Sheep Detectives” subverted my expectations. But is it worth seeing on the big screen this weekend? Here’s my honest take on the new mystery-comedy.
‘The Sheep Detectives’ is a surprisingly emotional movie
I thought watching a family-friendly movie about Hugh Jackman shepherding his sheep and reading them murder mystery stories (while the sheep talk amongst themselves about who the killer could be) would just be a funny experience. Don’t get me wrong, “The Sheep Detectives” is a very funny movie, but what I didn’t expect was to be teary-eyed by the end. I wasn’t alone either, as people behind me at the screening were sobbing, and my poor dad was trying to hold back his tears too. It really speaks volumes about how beautiful the film is, and how emotionally real it feels despite its absurdly charming premise.
“The Sheep Detectives” doesn’t immediately throw you into the deep end, though. Instead, we’re first introduced to Hugh Jackman’s character, George, who tells us about his sheep and why he’s given them such bizarrely adorable names, like Wool-Eyes (Rhys Darby) and Mopple (Chris O'Dowd). George explains that they’re all family, even the two “outsiders,” Sebastian (Bryan Cranston) and the Winter Lamb (who is so cute I could cry just thinking about it). But it’s not long before tragedy strikes, and the sheep discover George dead, realizing they’ll have to become detectives themselves to uncover the killer.
This movie follows a fairly standard mystery formula, so there’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about its story structure, but it’s clearly designed to be easily digestible for younger viewers. Where “The Sheep Detectives” truly shines is in how naturally it weaves in important themes, like processing grief, stepping outside your comfort zone in order to grow, and not treating others differently for being perceived as outsiders. One especially resonant story thread follows the little Winter Lamb, who is shut out from the main flock for being born at the “wrong time.” The film handles these themes with sincerity and tenderness.
Most of all, though, “The Sheep Detectives” is a charming little movie that’s surprisingly emotional while still being genuinely hilarious. The human cast are a delight too, especially Nicholas Braun as the anxious but determined local sheriff Tim, and Molly Gordon as the complex newcomer Rebecca. Everyone clearly seemed to be having a blast, but the sheep are obviously the real stars, with the passionate Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) leading the flock to solve George’s murder. And to give the film even more credit, I genuinely didn’t guess the killer correctly.
Verdict: ‘The Sheep Detectives’ is fluffy fun with real heart
“The Sheep Detectives” is your average mystery movie in terms of structure, but there’s nothing average about its heartwarming storytelling or the way its characters bring such important themes to life. It’s also a very colorful film, shot across several locations in England, mainly Surrey, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire. These countryside settings give the movie an extra layer of warmth and charm, making the flock’s little world feel especially cozy.
If you’re in need of a funny and charming movie that will tug at your heartstrings, “The Sheep Detectives” is worth seeing on the big screen. It deals with grief and genuinely moving themes in a way that still works for families, and it’s almost like a throwback to warm family films like “Babe,” but with a darker emotional core. “The Sheep Detectives” is a woolly good time that really pulls the flock together in the end.
"The Sheep Detectives" hits U.S theaters on May 8
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