Sleuths in Sheep's Clothing
In theaters just a couple of months ago, The Sheep Detectives was high on my list of must-see movies but, as often happens these days, we were not immediately on it so our window of opportunity closed scarcely before we even realized it was open. Then, a couple of days ago I noticed The Sheep Detectives featured in the queue of new movies now playing on Prime. Great news, I thought, before realizing it was...well...Prime. Even though I've been with Prime for years, I've come to realize that membership is really a double-edged sword: there's the sheer quantity of discounted merch, zero shipping costs and the convenience of orders and returns vs. the sometimes-iffy picture quality and long buffering delays for their streaming movies. Throw in Jeff Bezos and all his baggage (including his ghastly new wife) and you've got a whole extra level of ick.
Nevertheless, we drew the blinds, turned out the lights, curled up on the couch-recliner and settled in with The Sheep Detectives. As a longtime fan of mysteries, I have a fairly decent track record of figuring out whodunnit (and who's about to get it) but recently I've become a little jaded about the entire genre. Even so, I expected this movie to be entertaining in a cozy Disneyesque sort of way that's primarily created for the kiddies, a low-risk outing that is amusing enough and easily digestible. And while the under-10 set will be especially charmed by the digital detectives of the title, The Sheep Detectives is a film that is fun for all ages. As an adult whose tastes often run to considerably less cozy fare, I have to admit that this film really hit the sweet spot I was hankering for.
The film finds Hugh Jackman playing George Hardy, a curmudgeonly, middle-aged sheep farmer who lives in an Airstream trailer outside the village of Denbrook (located somewhere in the rural UK). George, not one for hobnobbing with the rest of the village people, prefers spending his waking hours with his beloved flock of sheep that roams freely about the grounds of his sprawling "estate". He caresses, holds and talks to them, reads his favorite mysteries aloud to them and even names them: they're everything to him and it is clear that the feeling is mutual. (A brief note here: during the scenes where George rubs and pats the faces of his sheep, I kept flashing back to my childhood, when my unfortunate attempt to make nice with a cousin's pet sheep went disastrously awry. Much to my dismay, I discovered that sheep really, really don't like their faces being messed with: this one head-butted me all the way back to the house as I ran screaming through the yard).
Amongst themselves, the sheep all speak (and understand) English, but to George and his fellow villagers, it is all baaaaah's and mehhhhh's. They're a smart lot, these sheep, and they've listened to George's book recitals for so long that they can sometimes figure out who the killer is before the denouement is announced. Of particular wit is Lily, a kindly, reddish-brown ewe who functions as the de facto matriarch of the group. Lily has somehow discovered a bit of enchantment that allows for any unpleasantries harshing the mellow of the immediate Ovine universe to be immediately forgotten at the agreed-upon count of 1-2-3. She has also conceptualized the idea of sheep becoming clouds when they leave their little community. She has not, however, given much thought to what happens to humans when they are suddenly--and permanently--gone. There has never been a need for the sheep to consider this because George has always been with them and always will be. Until one day, he's found silent, still and unmoving on the grass in front of his Airstream. When asked by one of the lambs if George is now a cloud, Lily shakes her head sadly and explains that this transition is reserved only for sheep.
With the none-too-bright, completely unqualified Tim Derry manning the local police station, George's demise is expediently deemed an "accident", despite the suspicious circumstances surrounding his unexpected death. There's also the fact that multiple persons in the vicinity had reason to wish George dead: after all, his confrontational attitude provoked most everyone at one time or another. For instance, there's the Reverend Hillcoate who seems a bit too twitchy not to be hiding something. Ham, the cranky butcher and Caleb, George's hot-headed shepherd-next-door, are both giving off bloodthirsty vibes, while Lydia Harbottle, George's solicitor, seems like she could have something nefarious up her sleeve. Even low-key innkeeper Beth might possibly have been swept up in some sort of dangerous liaison with the victim. And then there's this mysterious new girl in town who definitely has something shady going on.
Fortunately, plucky, wannabe-ace reporter, Elliott Matthews is on the spot hoping for a scoop--any kind of scoop--that will get him noticed in the wider press. Elliott is certain--or at least hopes--that a murder most foul has been committed and that he will be the one to break the story--if only he can keep Tim on the scent, that is. Prodding poor Tim to step up his investigation proves to be no easy task.
As luck would have it, our wooly sheeple--Lily, her friend Mopple (who never forgets anything, despite the 1-2-3 trick) and the magnificent loner, Sebastian, living in exile on a high crag above the farm--determine that their smarts are superior to those of the local constabulary and set out to help him solve the case, in spite of his own ineptitude. Since our friends are unable to actually speak to the officer, much less provide evidence or reveal hidden clues, they must find a way to communicate their findings to him. Which they eventually do, though at no small cost.
Given this film's enthusiastic reception there was no doubt that I was going to like it, even though there have other films of late--Disclosure Day, for one--that also garnered critical acclaim but left me feeling somehow dissatisfied. You know, like when those people on The Price is Right win an exercise machine or a boat or a home spa when they're really hoping for a shiny, new SUV. I'm happy to say The Sheep Detectives did not disappoint. It's funny in all the right places, tender when it needs to be, and intriguing with its Midsomer twists and turns. The culprit becomes fairly obvious in the first 10-15 minutes (if you're paying attention and have a devious mind like mine) but that didn't hamper my viewing pleasure of the wild and wooly happenings onscreen.
The VFX in the movie are exceptional and, at times, you nearly forget that the sheep aren't real (okay maybe that's an exaggeration but why would you care anyway?). Julia Louis-Dreyfus nails it as Lily: her performance effectively highlights Lily's compassionate, caring and practical nature--not to mention her extraordinary abilities in the art of crime-solving. The always-lovable Chris O'Dowd is also very good as resourceful, kind-hearted Mopple, and Bryan Cranston--whose voice I'd never have recognized--makes a poignant, bravehearted Sebastian. Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey and Laraine Newman, among others, provide entertaining ovine backup for our three principal leads, and I love, love, love the hilarious, head-butting sheep brothers, Reggie and Ronnie (both voiced by Brett Goldstein). On the human side, actors include Hugh Jackman (George), Nicholas Braun (Tim), Nicholas Galitzine (reporter Elliott), Emma Thompson (Lydia Harbottle) and Hong Chau (Beth), who gave a noteworthy performance earlier this year in Wuthering Heights.
In theaters just a couple of months ago, The Sheep Detectives was high on my list of must-see movies but, as often happens these days, we were not immediately on it so our window of opportunity closed scarcely before we even realized it was open. Then, a couple of days ago I noticed The Sheep Detectives featured in the queue of new movies now playing on Prime. Great news, I thought, before realizing it was...well...Prime. Even though I've been with Prime for years, I've come to realize that membership is really a double-edged sword: there's the sheer quantity of discounted merch, zero shipping costs and the convenience of orders and returns vs. the sometimes-iffy picture quality and long buffering delays for their streaming movies. Throw in Jeff Bezos and all his baggage (including his ghastly new wife) and you've got a whole extra level of ick.
Nevertheless, we drew the blinds, turned out the lights, curled up on the couch-recliner and settled in with The Sheep Detectives. As a longtime fan of mysteries, I have a fairly decent track record of figuring out whodunnit (and who's about to get it) but recently I've become a little jaded about the entire genre. Even so, I expected this movie to be entertaining in a cozy Disneyesque sort of way that's primarily created for the kiddies, a low-risk outing that is amusing enough and easily digestible. And while the under-10 set will be especially charmed by the digital detectives of the title, The Sheep Detectives is a film that is fun for all ages. As an adult whose tastes often run to considerably less cozy fare, I have to admit that this film really hit the sweet spot I was hankering for.
The film finds Hugh Jackman playing George Hardy, a curmudgeonly, middle-aged sheep farmer who lives in an Airstream trailer outside the village of Denbrook (located somewhere in the rural UK). George, not one for hobnobbing with the rest of the village people, prefers spending his waking hours with his beloved flock of sheep that roams freely about the grounds of his sprawling "estate". He caresses, holds and talks to them, reads his favorite mysteries aloud to them and even names them: they're everything to him and it is clear that the feeling is mutual. (A brief note here: during the scenes where George rubs and pats the faces of his sheep, I kept flashing back to my childhood, when my unfortunate attempt to make nice with a cousin's pet sheep went disastrously awry. Much to my dismay, I discovered that sheep really, really don't like their faces being messed with: this one head-butted me all the way back to the house as I ran screaming through the yard).
Amongst themselves, the sheep all speak (and understand) English, but to George and his fellow villagers, it is all baaaaah's and mehhhhh's. They're a smart lot, these sheep, and they've listened to George's book recitals for so long that they can sometimes figure out who the killer is before the denouement is announced. Of particular wit is Lily, a kindly, reddish-brown ewe who functions as the de facto matriarch of the group. Lily has somehow discovered a bit of enchantment that allows for any unpleasantries harshing the mellow of the immediate Ovine universe to be immediately forgotten at the agreed-upon count of 1-2-3. She has also conceptualized the idea of sheep becoming clouds when they leave their little community. She has not, however, given much thought to what happens to humans when they are suddenly--and permanently--gone. There has never been a need for the sheep to consider this because George has always been with them and always will be. Until one day, he's found silent, still and unmoving on the grass in front of his Airstream. When asked by one of the lambs if George is now a cloud, Lily shakes her head sadly and explains that this transition is reserved only for sheep.
With the none-too-bright, completely unqualified Tim Derry manning the local police station, George's demise is expediently deemed an "accident", despite the suspicious circumstances surrounding his unexpected death. There's also the fact that multiple persons in the vicinity had reason to wish George dead: after all, his confrontational attitude provoked most everyone at one time or another. For instance, there's the Reverend Hillcoate who seems a bit too twitchy not to be hiding something. Ham, the cranky butcher and Caleb, George's hot-headed shepherd-next-door, are both giving off bloodthirsty vibes, while Lydia Harbottle, George's solicitor, seems like she could have something nefarious up her sleeve. Even low-key innkeeper Beth might possibly have been swept up in some sort of dangerous liaison with the victim. And then there's this mysterious new girl in town who definitely has something shady going on.
Fortunately, plucky, wannabe-ace reporter, Elliott Matthews is on the spot hoping for a scoop--any kind of scoop--that will get him noticed in the wider press. Elliott is certain--or at least hopes--that a murder most foul has been committed and that he will be the one to break the story--if only he can keep Tim on the scent, that is. Prodding poor Tim to step up his investigation proves to be no easy task.
As luck would have it, our wooly sheeple--Lily, her friend Mopple (who never forgets anything, despite the 1-2-3 trick) and the magnificent loner, Sebastian, living in exile on a high crag above the farm--determine that their smarts are superior to those of the local constabulary and set out to help him solve the case, in spite of his own ineptitude. Since our friends are unable to actually speak to the officer, much less provide evidence or reveal hidden clues, they must find a way to communicate their findings to him. Which they eventually do, though at no small cost.
Given this film's enthusiastic reception there was no doubt that I was going to like it, even though there have other films of late--Disclosure Day, for one--that also garnered critical acclaim but left me feeling somehow dissatisfied. You know, like when those people on The Price is Right win an exercise machine or a boat or a home spa when they're really hoping for a shiny, new SUV. I'm happy to say The Sheep Detectives did not disappoint. It's funny in all the right places, tender when it needs to be, and intriguing with its Midsomer twists and turns. The culprit becomes fairly obvious in the first 10-15 minutes (if you're paying attention and have a devious mind like mine) but that didn't hamper my viewing pleasure of the wild and wooly happenings onscreen.
The VFX in the movie are exceptional and, at times, you nearly forget that the sheep aren't real (okay maybe that's an exaggeration but why would you care anyway?). Julia Louis-Dreyfus nails it as Lily: her performance effectively highlights Lily's compassionate, caring and practical nature--not to mention her extraordinary abilities in the art of crime-solving. The always-lovable Chris O'Dowd is also very good as resourceful, kind-hearted Mopple, and Bryan Cranston--whose voice I'd never have recognized--makes a poignant, bravehearted Sebastian. Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey and Laraine Newman, among others, provide entertaining ovine backup for our three principal leads, and I love, love, love the hilarious, head-butting sheep brothers, Reggie and Ronnie (both voiced by Brett Goldstein). On the human side, actors include Hugh Jackman (George), Nicholas Braun (Tim), Nicholas Galitzine (reporter Elliott), Emma Thompson (Lydia Harbottle) and Hong Chau (Beth), who gave a noteworthy performance earlier this year in Wuthering Heights.
Sap that I am, I immediately went online looking for Hardy's Guide to Raising Sheep, a book that features prominently in the movie. Of course, there is no such book and I really have no idea why I'd want to read it in the first place. What am I going to do? Raise sheep? No thanks. Cute they may be, but I have yet to recover from that first boyhood encounter.
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