The Sheep Detectives, rated PG
***
The Sheep Detectives is a murder mystery with plenty of comedy that will be enjoyable for the entire family. The film was directed by Kyle Balda (Minions: The Rise of Gru; Despicable Me), written by Emmy winner Craig Mazin (Chernobyl), and is based on the 2005 novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann.
George Hardy, played by Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables) is a shepherd who lives in a trailer outside the English town of Denbrook. He is a widower, who loves his sheep. Each evening, he reads them a mystery novel. The sheep hang on every word, and they come to understand all the twists and turns of a typical murder mystery novel.
Click on ‘Continue reading’ for more of this review:
We see George writing a letter anticipating a visit from one we assume is a romantic interest. However, the letter is never mailed as it is taken from the postal woman’s mailbag by innkeeper Beth Pennock, played by Oscar nominee Hong Chau (The Whale).
George’s sheep are very happy and they love George. They have been told that they don’t die, but instead turn into clouds at the end of their lives. When things get difficult for them, they can count to three and they will no longer remember what it was that was causing them difficulty. They shun a small, sweet winter lamb voiced by Tommy Birchall, because it was born in the winter instead of the spring when most lambs are born.
The sheep’s happy life is shattered when one morning George is found dead outside his trailer. Denbrook’s only policeman, Tim Derry, played by Emmy nominee Nicholas Braun (Succession), believes that the cause of death is a heart attack.
Reporter Elliot Matthews, played by Nicholas Galitzine (The Idea of You, Purple Hearts), looking for his big break, is in Denbrook to report on the local cultural festival.
Heartbroken by George’s death, the sheep decide to solve the mystery on their own, led by Lily, voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld), the ram Mopple, voiced by Emmy winner Chris O’Dowd (State of the Union), who always keeps his memories, and Sebastian, voiced by Oscar nominee Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), a sheep George rescued from being exploited at a carnival.
George’s will is read at the local inn by attorney Lydia Harbottle, played by two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility, Howards End). Also present is George’s daughter that nobody knew existed, Rebecca Hampstead, played by Molly Gordon (The Bear).
Also in attendance are officer Tim, Reverend Hillcoate, played by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, butcher Ham Gilyard, played by Conleth Hill, innkeeper Beth Pennock, and neighboring shepherd Caleb Merrow played by Tosin Cole (Doctor Who).
Did George die of a heart attack, or was he murdered? Can the sheep learn from the novels George read them and solve this mystery?
There is one part of the film that may be difficult for very young viewers when the sheep realize that they do not become clouds when they die.
Overall, this is an entertaining and creative film with an excellent cast for the whole family.
