It’s rare that a film is so sweet that it wins over internal objections, but that’s the case with “The Sheep Detectives.” It’s a wonderful movie that sounds hokey in theory and should be extremely corny and dumb, yet it’s executed brilliantly and becomes a truly endearing experience. Director Kyle Balda, working from a script by Craig Mazin (based on the novel by Leonie Swann), finds a way to be tender without too much saccharine, and even plumbs darker depths of loss and grief without losing any of its shine. It takes a bit to get going—starting off as woefully cloying as it seems it would be—but once it hits its stride, “The Sheep Detectives” is a terrifically made film that is cute, heartwarming, entertaining, hilarious, and—perhaps most surprising—thoroughly human.
George (Hugh Jackman) is a shepherd who tends his flock outside of the tiny town of Denbrook. He cares deeply for his sheep and each night reads to them from a book—usually a murder mystery novel. When George turns up dead, and the local (and only) police officer (Nicholas Braun), seems ill-equipped to handle the situation, George’s flock step up and decide to figure out who killed their shepherd.
Balda’s film feels less like “Happy Feet” and more like “Babe: Pig in the City” in its crafting of a world and characters that feel lived in and inviting. “The Sheep Detectives” blends cozy mystery with talking animals and though it should be far too sweet and precious, the excellent performances and writing keep it grounded and not too treacly. Yes, it’s sentimental, but in a beautiful way that remains relatable and entertaining. It feels quaint, but like a delightful Bed & Breakfast in the country, without too many doilies.
One thing that helps “The Sheep Detectives” immensely is the cast. It’s impressive how well the actors voicing the sheep really impart a sense of character (alongside the excellent CG work and animal actors). Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Brett Goldstein, and more lend their voices to George’s flock and do incredible work. The human counterparts also excel, especially Nicholas Braun and Emma Thompson who are utterly hilarious in their roles as the cop and lawyer, respectively. The entire ensemble bounces off each other beautifully and, while the characters aren’t the most fully formed creations, they are easy to identify and understand and invest in.
Another aspect that works so well in Balda’s film is its willingness to explore darker subject matter. Of course, I don’t mean that “The Sheep Detectives” is some “Requiem for a Dream”-level somber experience. But it is willing to wade into heavier waters of what death means for these simple creatures and why grief, in all its enduring pain, is an important and necessary part of our finite lives. It’s not the deepest exploration of these themes, but to do so while wrapped up in a cozy mystery with barnyard sleuths is commendable and helps make the proceedings feel much more profound than a simple logline.
The mystery at the heart of “The Sheep Detectives” isn’t the hardest nut to crack, but this is an example of the journey being more important than the destination. It’s sorting through the suspects, motives, and more and learning about these characters, all while learning about the investigators themselves, that makes the film so engrossing. It’s a similar feeling to “Paddington 2” where, even though there’s some sadness and peril, the movie is incredibly comforting and light, like a cat basking in the sun’s rays. Mazin’s script is excellent (and surprising coming from the guy that did “Chernobyl” and “The Last of Us”), and does a great job of truly making audiences care about these sheep and about the people, all while directed excellently by Balda getting some terrific set pieces and sequences from his cast (both real and CG).
“The Sheep Detectives” sounds awful on paper. Even the title is kind of the worst. You feel like you know what it’ll be: there should be a bunch of bad pop culture references, sheep puns, and some hijinks will ensue while a Top 40 dance hit blares over the soundtrack. None of that happens though. Instead, audiences are treated to a delightfully whimsical film that is sweet but not overly cute, that explores death and grief in a real way but also is frequently hilarious and utterly endearing. Everyone involved with the project—from Balda to the actors to the CG artists—brought their A-game and delivered a genuinely unique movie that provides audiences with a warm, comforting, and an intensely human experience.
4 / 5 Stars
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Nicholas Braun, Molly Gordon, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Brett Goldstein, Bella Ramsey, Emma Thompson, Rhys Darby, Hong Chau, Nicholas Galitzine
Directed by: Kyle Balda
