(L to R) Julia-Louis Dreyfus as the voice of Lily and Hugh Jackman as George Hardy in THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, from Amazon MGM Studios.
By Kathryn Whitney Boole
I believe that the filmmakers of The Sheep Detectives knew deep in their innermost instincts that they had a potential gem on their hands, and all they needed to do was to meld the artistry of the story and its dialogue with the creative genius of their actors, CGI visual effects animators, and camera work using a perfect blend of pacing and joy. And that tremendous challenge was met resoundingly by the filmmakers and brilliant cast.
In the first few minutes of the movie, you will begin to think it’s cute, and you will marvel at the skills employed in endowing a motley flock of sheep with endearing personalities. You will soon suspend the judgment you normally use to distance your sense of self from animation or claymation figures. Within minutes, the sheep and their conversations amongst themselves become real to you, and you become one of them. You are never asked to cross the line into a realm where sheep communications would be understood by humans. The sheep don’t do anything that sheep can’t do, and they only talk with each other.
Taken from a German fairy tale and based on the 2005 novel “Three Bags Full,” the story has many lessons about life, personality, good and bad, wrong and right, and there is sadness as well as celebration. The dialogue is beautifully written by Craig Mazin. The audience is able to understand both the sheep and the human dialogue, and Malin has given each character their own voice, their own pattern of thought, and their own ability to draw conclusions. You think you may know where the story is going, but you don’t. It’s both a fairy tale and a murder mystery, and the twists and turns will surprise you. Shot in the English countryside, the landscapes that grace the background of the story are visually striking.
The story begins with a shepherd, “George,” played with quiet sensitivity by Hugh Jackman, who raises his flock only for wool and reads them murder mystery stories in the evening to relax them before going to sleep. The sheep listen intently to George’s readings, which establishes that they understand human communication, an important story point. As the narrative flows on, the sheep actually become part of such a murder mystery.
Writer Mazin learned about the novel and was “enchanted by how smart, moving, and philosophical it was.” He wrote his first draft of the script, and then it took him almost 10 years to secure the rights. Mazin and director Kyle Balda summoned up extraordinary courage and dedication to the dream of making it work. Balda has worked in feature animation for 30 years, for movies as varied in style as Toy Story, Madagascar, The Matrix Revolutions, and Despicable Me, so he had the skills and understanding to make the interplay between humans and CGI sheep work perfectly.
It also took a certain bravery for Hugh Jackman to take on the role of George the shepherd, with not a lot of screen time but monumental importance in the story. His presence is felt throughout the movie by the sheep, so he had to immediately make a huge impression. This is a perfect role for Jackman, who can choose to do any role he wants at this point in his career, and he’s such a versatile performer that it could be just about anything. He has a knack for playing strong guys with huge emotion hiding underneath a quiet, composed countenance.
The cast of this movie, both the humans and the sheep who are voiced by actors, makes it work. Emma Thompson, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Tosin Cole, and Nicholas Braun are colorful characters who are key to the mystery. The sheep steal the screen, especially with their eyes. They are created by the CGI animators of Framestore, and voiced by some of the top actors working today, including Brett Goldstein of Ted Lasso fame as twin Norfolk Horned sheep “Ronnie” and “Reggie,” Patrick Stewart as “Sir Richfield,” a Boreray sheep, Regina Hall as “Clouds,” a North Country Cheviot sheep, Chris O’Dowd as “Mopple,” a Merino sheep, Bryan Cranston as Icelandic Leadersheep “Sebastian,” and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as “Lily,” a Shetland Sheep. The baby sheep are voiced by real children who had a wonderful time working on the film. Each of the sheep has a distinctive personality, which is also happens to be the case with real sheep.
Director Balda wanted to impart a “feeling of delight and love” above all to this movie, and Jackman notes that the film is about “connection and love.” This is a mystery populated by some highly unusual characters. There’s a story within the story that touches on how mystery stories are constructed.
Sheep are intelligent animals, just below pigs. They have strong memories, recognize other sheep and humans for years, and have a complex emotional makeup. They can solve problems, form bonds, experience emotions, and adapt to changes. They readily recognize their owners and their shepherds.
The sheep in this movie contemplate deep thoughts about the nature of existence. They eventually question the belief handed down through their flock that they turn into a cloud when they die. The movie seems like a children’s story, but for adults, it’s a deep philosophy, with a “spoonful of sugar” to make it easy to digest.
All I can say is, “See this movie even if you think you couldn’t possibly like a movie about a flock of sheep solving a mystery.” You will find yourself pleasantly surprised. It’s not what you think. You may be watching some 2027 Academy Award nominees.
Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com
