When I saw the trailer for The Sheep Detectives, I had no idea what to expect. This seemed like a family film that should have come out in the early 2000s. It looked really silly, and with a title like that, how good could it really be? It surprisingly had gotten really excellent reviews, so I decided to check it out. Well, after seeing it, I’m here to say that The Sheep Detectives is one of the best movies of the entire year.
The Story
George (Hugh Jackman) is a lonely shepherd who lives in a small town and spends his days tending to his flock of sheep and reading murder mysteries out loud to them. When George is suddenly found dead, and it is revealed he was murdered, the sheep, who have absorbed a surprisingly vast knowledge of detective tropes and clues from his readings, take it upon themselves to investigate the crime.
This is easily a plot that could become a cheap family movie that is way too silly. The thing this movie does best is care about its script and final product. The sheep are adorable for sure and funny, but they also all have such rich character, and the movie as a whole is very character-driven.
The mystery in a mystery film should also be exciting and leave you on the edge of your seat. The Sheep Detectives does just that as the mystery is genuinely engaging. The movie does a good job of not dumbing down its audience. There are surprising twists, and I really didn’t figure out the case until the very end.
Voice Acting and Message
The movie is filled with top-notch voiceover work from the likes of Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Bryan Cranston. Hugh Jackman is also very good as the owner of the sheep, but Nicholas Braun steals the show as a clumsy local police officer.
The film has a great message about grief and how it’s healthy to remember the bad things that happen. We shouldn’t ignore our trauma just because it’s difficult to face. Life is hard, and kids and teens need to know that it’s okay to have feelings and talk about things. It blows my mind that a movie called The Sheep Detectives had such a strong lesson.
Overall
The Sheep Detectives is honestly the biggest surprise of the year so far. It reminds me of when Paddington came out. The trailers didn’t do much and made it seem like a generic kids’ movie. When people saw it, though, they realized it was one of the best family films of all time. I have no complaints or criticisms about this movie. It is often hilarious, often intelligent, and often very meaningful.
The movie made me feel good when watching it. It manages to be entertaining for kids but also smart and enjoyable for adults. It has so much heart, some good comedy, and a very intriguing mystery. As soon as it finished, I just wanted to tell the world about it and see it again. The Sheep Detectives may look like a silly movie that should have come out 20 years ago, but in reality, it is one of the best of the year and deserves recognition for years to come.
