‘The Sheep Detectives’ Movie Review – Is It Worth Watching?

The Sheep Detectives is a quirky murder mystery with one major twist: there isn’t a human detective, but rather a flock of sheep there to investigate. After the Knives Out film series revitalised the genre with its sequels (including Glass Onion and Wake Up Dead Man), it seemed that, alongside the recent Kenneth Branagh reboot of Poirot films, murder mysteries were back in vogue.

Leaning into the frequent rehashing of Sherlock Holmes across many iterations – from Benedict Cumberbatch’s version to the Robert Downey Jr. take and Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock series – it seems there’s no stopping this revitalisation. Many will welcome the return of a genre that has always been right at home in England. Whether it be Poirot, Morse, Sherlock, Vera or indeed any other sleuth, there is something enduring about this death-and-whodunnit formula. It remains entertaining, engaging and always succeeds in getting audiences to play detective themselves.

Yet, as a well-worn genre with clear guidelines around procedural investigations, the revival may need some sprucing up rather than simply falling back into old habits. The repetitive, episodic nature of these British series (which are essentially feature-length films) shows there’s an undying appetite and repeat value for this kind of entertainment. We love watching characterful detectives fumbling and deducting their way to unexpected outcomes in the pursuit of justice.

Directed by Kyle Balda, who’s best known for his affiliation with banana-loving yellow TicTac-shaped Minions, it’s easy to see the film’s zany aspirations. Based on Leonie Swann’s bestselling novel, ‘Three Bags Full’, the story substitutes a detective with unusual facial hair for a flock of woolly sheep. Taking a page from classic detective fiction and another from the best of British lore – evoking the English countryside and the home of Peter Rabbit – Craig Mazin and Leonie Swann spin a yarn that playfully centres on the murder of George, a beloved “shepherd”, in a town where the sheep can talk to each other.

Admittedly, the trailer for The Sheep Detectives leaves one with more questions than answers, creating some mixed expectations regarding the overall quality of the production. Perhaps being set to the tune of the ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ anthem by The Proclaimers is the best clue. The good news, however, is that the film easily surpasses the low bar set by its marketing. Perhaps the trailer tried to hide too much of the plot or simply lacked the time to provide the necessary context to ground the notion of talking, investigative sheep. They may not be alien robots, but it still takes a moment to acclimatise to the idea of a farm where every sheep has a name.

The film stars Hugh Jackman, or at least begins with him initiating the proceedings. Because the story is so integrally focused on the animals, the live-action ensemble (outside of Jackman and Emma Thompson) is not particularly recognisable. It certainly helps having the acting calibre of Jackman and Thompson to steady the ship, while the lesser-known cast members make a valiant effort to keep things moving along. As for the sheep, it’s highly entertaining to hear big-name stars such as Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, Bryan Cranston and Julia Louis-Dreyfus voicing them. Their performances never become too much of a distraction, allowing the mystery to remain centre stage.

“The irony of me being Wolverine, right…”

While the CGI is a prominent feature of The Sheep Detectives, it does not strive for absolute realism. The visual effects are simply good enough for you to accept the premise, with the comedic tone making plenty of allowances for the talking animals. The writing features numerous scenes where the flock discuss the case amongst themselves, effectively controlling the town’s bumbling police officer like a puppet to lead him through the investigation. With a colourful lineup of local suspects, the film has a distinct Cluedo undertone, while the Knives Out influence shines through as each character is revealed to have a plausible motive.

This is a thoroughly charming, entertaining and upbeat murder mystery comedy that never takes itself too seriously. The actors fully commit to the absurdity, and it is a joy to watch their quizzical reactions as they try to rationalise the unusual behaviour of the herd.

Ultimately, the sheep are the true stars of this production, which otherwise plays things quite straight and conventional when it comes to the classic, sleepy English village mystery. While it has its moments of pure delight, it’s also capable of being surprisingly poignant at times – achieving the seemingly impossible given how silly it looked on paper.

As outlandish as it appears on the surface, The Sheep Detectives takes full licence to bend the rules and operate exactly as it pleases. While it has every opportunity to be incredibly foolish, it manages to keep a tight lid on the nonsense, keeping at least one cloven hoof on the ground. By cleverly crafting distinct personalities for animals that are usually difficult to tell apart – like the wonderfully designed Lily, Wool-Eyes, Othello and Mopple – the filmmakers have delivered a highly entertaining caper.

It may not be the most spectacular film you’ll ever see, nor the most intricate puzzle you will ever solve, but The Sheep Detectives excels as a piece of lighthearted, unconventional, and absurdly comedic entertainment. The packaging may look ridiculous, but the net result is surprisingly emotional and satisfying.

The bottom line: Delightful