Do you need to laugh? Or, at the very least, smile a little? If your answer is “yes,” then the new comedy mystery “The Sheep Detectives” just might be for you.
The movie, based on the novel “Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swann, is a very clever mix of live action and good old computer-generated imagery (CGI). The difference between CGI and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is that with CGI, humans create the special effects. In what seems almost delightfully old-fashioned, considering the new world of filmmaking knocking on the door, human beings comprise most of the cast (or provide voiceovers), wrote the screenplay, designed the clever effects, and directed the motion picture. Nary a robotic program doing all the work involved.
“The Sheep Detectives” is about a shepherd named George Hardy, who, each and every evening, reads aloud from a favorite mystery novel. Here’s the kicker: he’s reading out loud to his beloved sheep. We have been told through voiceover directly from George that he isn’t a hail-fellow-well-met type of person. He is not especially fond of people. The sheep in his small flock are his best friends, and they all have names.
George is played wonderfully by Hugh Jackman, which, of course, makes him one of the handsomest shepherds you’ve ever seen, at least in a movie. He delights in his solitary life on a small farm in the lovely English countryside. What George doesn’t realize is that his sheep understand every word he reads to them. Once he goes to bed, they enjoy discussing the novel, relishing plot twists and having fun chatting about potential storyline theories. A precocious and intelligent Shetland sheep named Lily, voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, has a knack for solving any and all fictional mysteries. This makes her the most important sheep, especially considering what happens next.
Very early in the film — much earlier in terms of screen time than when Janet Leigh’s leading character, Marian Crane, is killed in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” — George is murdered. His killing stuns the community and shocks his sheep. It is agreed by the frightened and bereft animals that Lily should become the chief investigator. She proudly leads the hunt for the killer. I will point out that George doesn’t disappear. He is still an important character throughout the rest of the picture.
The 109-minute film, which is playing nationwide, including at The Capitol Theatre in Niagara Falls, is a decidedly unique mix of “Paddington,” “Watership Down, “Babe,” the “Knives Out” movies and the collected works of Agatha Christie. George’s murder aside, the feature is rated PG for parental guidance, which means children who are able to handle the death of a main character, discussions about mortality, and hearing talking animals that understand the concept of murder should be allowed to see the movie. If you haven’t actually been paying attention to the ratings system in a while, PG falls between PG-13 and G.
Based on what I’ve already written, it should come as no surprise to you that “The Sheep Detective” is a classic whodunit. What is a surprise is that the film is a winner on every level. Director Kyle Balda and his screenwriter Craig Mazin present a straightforward story that is filled with layers of emotion and has deep-seated respect for the intelligence of its audience. How about that?
I cannot emphasize enough that nothing in the movie shouts “gimmick.” Its story is told with sincerity and just enough humor to keep moviegoers charmed. It may seem absurd, what with sheep acting like Miss Marple, but it never feels absurd. It feels, I’m here to tell you, remarkably honest and believable. There are playful and somber moments that are utterly engaging or enlightening.
In addition to Jackman, the excellent human cast includes Nicholas Braun as a policeman, Nicholas Galitzine as a young reporter, Molly Gordon as George’s daughter, Tosin Cole as another shepherd, and Emma Thompson in a small role as George’s lawyer. Other important characters are a priest, a butcher, and a postwoman. Does the cast ham it up? Indeed, they do.
In addition to Louis-Dreyfus, the terrific voice cast includes Bryan Cranston as Sebastian, a black Icelandic Leader sheep; Chris O’Dowd as Mopple, a Merino sheep; Patrick Stewart as Sir Richfield, a Boreray sheep; Bella Ramsey as Zora, a Danish Landrace sheep with brown wool; Regina Hall as Cloud, a North County Cheviot sheep; Brett Goldstein as Reggie and Ronnie, twin Norfolk Horn sheep; and Rhys Darby as Wool-Eyes, a Lincoln Longwool sheep. I genuinely appreciated learning about how many different kinds of sheep there are. It added a twinkle of knowledge to an already delightful cinematic experience.
The production values and special effects for “The Sheep Detectives” are top-of-the-line. The beautiful bucolic cinematography is by George Steel. As with all mysteries, the fun is in the guessing. Who murdered George? And why? There are plenty of suspects. What is enjoyable in a thematic sense is how thoughtful the movie is. It’s like a lyrical springtime gift. Everything comes together perfectly. Too many films these days feel incomplete. They fail to work as well as they should. This is a caper movie that isn’t afraid of whimsy. It balances its playful and serious sides with style and aplomb. It is never exhausting. It might even put a smile on the face of the biggest curmudgeon you know. Considering the struggle to get motion pictures produced, it actually seems like a miracle that “The Sheep Detectives” was made. Pure fun at the movies? What an amazing concept.