The Sheep Detectives review: No fleecing here
‘The Sheep Detectives’ is a distinct whodunit in which a clever ewe is the lead investigator in a murder case.
The murder mystery has experienced a resurgence in recent years. New interpretations of Sherlock Holmes consistently captures people’s imaginations, while Agatha Christie’s stories remain genre classics. But the rise of true crime enthusiasts shows audiences like uncovering puzzle pieces and putting them together. Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series taps into the moviegoer’s desire to solve the mystery. Presenting audiences with unique and thrilling crimes is a surefire way to retain their attention. The Sheep Detectives takes a slightly different approach in making the investigators almost more interesting than the suspects.
George (Hugh Jackman) is shepherd to a flock of sheep with distinct personalities. On the outskirts of a small town, he tends to them with individual care. Each night, he reads them mystery novels before bedtime. Their love for each other is mutual, so finding George lying dead in the grass is a blow to the herd. Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the smartest sheep, is convinced he’s been murdered — just like in the books. The town is full of suspects, including George’s newly arrived estranged daughter, Rebecca (Molly Gordon). In the meantime, Officer Tim (Nicholas Braun) is out of his depth and Elliot (Nicholas Galitzine), a small-time reporter, smells a juicy story unfolding.
Whodunnits are fun because they engage the audience by design. It’s impossible to watch or read a mystery without trying to figure out who committed the crime. Consequently, even though George doesn’t think the sheep can understand or are even paying attention to his bedtime stories, they are very much engrossed in the thrillers. Lily always solves the case before the book’s end, so she’s sure she can find George’s killer. But she soon realizes investigating a murder in real life is not as easy — especially when you can’t question the suspects. Luckily, she’s not alone. Mopple (Chris O’Dowd), the sheep that never forgets, is Watson to her Sherlock. He accompanies her throughout the inquiry, helping her point Officer Tim in the right direction.
Tim is labelled a “fool” by many, giving the sheep little confidence he can solve the murder on his own. So, Lily must find ways to aid him in his investigation without drawing too much attention. She and Mopple are very creative in leading Tim to clues, and ensuring he has the tools he needs to examine the evidence and draw the correct conclusions. There’s little untouched territory in this genre, but sheep detectives are certainly a unique and entertaining angle for a murder mystery.
The film opens from George’s perspective as he describes his day-to-day life to an intimate but unknown pen pal. His description of the sheep is the most intriguing. In spite of not speaking the same language, he’s got a good sense of their distinct personalities and names them accordingly. George also describes the winter’s lamb (Tommy Birchall), which is the perpetually sad lot of a baby not born in the spring and, therefore, shunned by the rest of the flock. It’s difficult not to feel sorry for the runty innocent, always alone but still hoping to be accepted.
Sebastian (Bryan Cranston) also spends a lot of time alone, but he does so by choice. The ram is a wanderer. But his regard for George brings him back to the flock. The rest of the sheep need his help to navigate the world beyond their meadow. While his approach is not unkind, it is practical. The sense of realism throughout the story balances the sheep’s inevitable cuteness. Unfortunately, George’s death removes the protective shield that safeguarded the flock, forcing Lily to confront some of the cruelties she once thought were only fictional.
The human performers take a backseat to the sheep who are all exceptionally captivating. They perfectly cast voice actors to reflect their respective dispositions. Other voice actors include Brett Goldstein, Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, Bella Ramsey. They’re not overly anthropomorphized since to the rest of the human world, they seem like regular animals. Instead, the narrative relies heavily on their vocal inflections to express their personalities. As a result, the characters connect with the audience, even making reference to the metaphor about sheep being followers.
Luckily, this film isn’t mindlessly following any of its predecessors.
Director: Kyle Balda
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Chris O’Dowd
