RIOTUS

I’ll confess—not that I have shame or anything—but going into the theater, I was already enchanted by the trailer and concept for The Sheep Detectives. We adore a cozy around here. Still, you couldn’t have convinced me  I would enjoy this quirky, cozy, family-fun mystery as much as I did. With a script that’s infused with both a sense of humor and a compassion for first-time grief, I can see why so many stars jumped on board this production.

Let me be so bold as they say: If anybody tells you this movie isn’t good, they hate fun. That’s it. That person does not enjoy the soft and fluffy side of life that comes with a herd of sheep investigating why and how their shepherd (Hugh Jackman) ended up dead on a grassy hillside. Not that these sheep aren’t well-equipped for the task. George the Shepherd read mysteries to the herd every night, and they paid attention. Especially his best girl/ewe, Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the smartest among them. That includes the humans.

Based on the novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann, this small village mystery stars—deep breath—Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein (as twin rams), Rhys Darby as the herd. With Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Tosin Cole, and Emma Thompson playing the humans, both suspects and allies. The Sheep Detectives is a family movie in the range of Babe and Charlotte’s Web, with a deep sensitivity about grief, greed, and about three bags full of laughs. Co-executive producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller love winning.

Directed by Kyle Balda from a Craig Mazin screenplay, it’s stunning how well this film handles ostracization and sacrifice, along with coping mechanisms like denial and transference. The sheep even mask their grief with the very human act of keeping busy. In doing that, they not only solve the murder but also come to understand their shepherd better, as their understanding of the world grows.

Shears Out! The Sheep Detectives is a surprisingly riveting cozy mystery with real stakes and certain dangers. The CGI animals look good too, with endearing character designs and distinct personalities. They also have solid facial expressions that make you feel like you’re getting to know them and understand what they’re feeling. Honestly, if Amazon MGM Studios is taking orders, I’ll take another one of these around the same time next year.