The Sheep Detectives

I can't believe this movie is as good as it is.

When I first saw the trailer to The Sheep Detectives, I honestly thought it was going to be terrible. I mean, not only did the premise sound ridiculous to me, but I definitely thought that the effects were going to be atrocious. So, I personally thought that this was going to be an awful children's film - similar to movies that I grew up with like Cats and Dogs.

But then I started hearing a surprising amount of praise. Way too much praise for me to ignore. So, while I didn't exactly think that the movie would be for me, I did want to see what all of the fuss was about. And you know what? I actually really enjoyed it! Which is exactly why you should watch every movie with an open mind and an open heart.

The Sheep Detectives is an  incredibly delightful film. And, as the title does suggest, the story focuses on a flock of sheep who set out to prove that they can be brilliant crime-solvers. 

Is that premise a little silly? Absolutely. But its also wonderfully endearing. And even surprisingly engaging! This is an undeniably compelling murder mystery. One that fully embraces the tropes of the genre. So, while it may not be subversive like the Benoit Blanc trilogy, its wholesome and heartwarming nature does make it one of the most memorable mysteries in recent years.

Plus, all of the sheep characters are absolutely adorable. It may take me too long to go over the entire flock, but every sheep - believe it or not - has a unique personality of its own. So much so, in fact, that the sheep actually feel way more fleshed out than the human characters! And that lack of development does make the live-action characters feel a bit more cartoonish than the animated ones. Which is ironic, but it works since this is a lighthearted story about those animated animals.

And the sheep are brilliantly brought to life by a talented voice cast that includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Rhys Darby, and Brett Goldstein. So, given how impressive this ensemble cast actually is, its easy to see why the sheep all feel unique and like fully developed characters.

But, as impressive as those names are on their own, I can't forget to mention the human characters that are played by Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Emma Thompson, and Conleth Hill! Most of whom are fine here, but Hugh Jackman really gets to shine as a warm and loving shepherd. A character who is in stark contrast to his portrayal of Wolverine. Not that Jackman hasn't proven his range as an actor before, I just like seeing him in projects that aren't X-Men related.

So, this Agatha Christie inspired film - about a flock of sheep who try to solve a murder - is definitely Kyle Balda's best directorial effort. And it was written by Craig Mazin, of all people! How weird is that? I guess he needed to detox after working on serious and depressing projects like Chernobyl and The Last of Us. But he did a damn good job of getting me to care about these sheep!

It may not be the best murder mystery out there, but it's definitely a charming and surprisingly heartfelt one. One that the entire family can enjoy! Take it from someone who didn't expect to like it: this is a good movie.

The Sheep Detectives would definitely get a recommendation from me.