‘The Sheep Detectives’ movie review: Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson and the rest of the flock charm in this sweet, smart fable

At a time when quite a lot of content seems to lack grace, comes The Sheep Detectives, based on Leonie Swann’s 2005 novel, Three Bags Full, a film sure to bring a smile to your face, a lump in your throat, and restore your faith in humanity.

Simple and profound as it deals with death and slaughter for food, Kyle Balda’s (the man behind the Minion movies) The Sheep Detectives is gentle even as it uncovers the harshest truths. And it is laugh-out-loud funny too — the person falling asleep while literally counting sheep is a case in point. That it could also be a clue pointing to the murderer moves the needle to clever-funny. The fact that all this philosophy is wrapped in a crackerjack murder mystery is the icing on the cake.

In the little English town of Denbrook, George Hardy (Hugh Jackman) leads a solitary life, caring for his sheep, all of whom he has named. There is smart Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), quiet Sebastian (Bryan Cranston), Mopple (Chris O’Dowd), who remembers everything, pretty Cloud (Regina Hall), regal Sir Richfield (Patrick Stewart), curious Zora (Bella Ramsey), Wool-Eyes (Rhys Darby), so named because he has wool over his eyes, and the constantly head-butting twins Reggie and Ronnie (Brett Goldstein).

Every evening, George reads his favourite whodunits to his flock, secretly admitting to himself that no matter how clever sheep are, they cannot understand what he is reading to them. He is not further from the truth as of course sheep all listen carefully to his stories and are super annoyed when he stops reading just before the killer is unmasked, though Lily correctly guesses the killer.

When the sheep find George dead, they decide to find the murderer, especially since the crime seems to be following all the rules of a classic whodunit. There is the silly policeman, Tim Derry (Nicholas Braun), the Watson-reporter, Elliot Matthews (Nicholas Galitzine), and the visitor from afar, George’s daughter Rebecca (Molly Gordon).

A still from ‘The Sheep Detectives’
| Photo Credit:
Amazon MGM Studios

The reading of the will by the family solicitor Lydia Harbottle (Emma Thompson) reveals a clutch of suspects, including the innkeeper, Beth Pennock (Hong Chau), who was heard saying she wished she could kill George, Caleb (Tosin Cole), a shepherd who was heard arguing with George on the day before his death, Reverend Hillcoate (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith), who George left a considerable sum of money with and Ham (Conleth Hill), the butcher, who was suspicious of George’s vegetarianism.

However, Lily discovers life is not as neat as in a book. She makes mistakes and has to rethink certain beliefs but comes through in the end. There was a moment when casting almost pointed at the killer before the proper whodunit rules were applied.

The sheep are truly a marvel of CGI and the voice work is exemplary. While there are now many subversions of whodunits that are meta and fun, the ones that are most engaging are those that do not lose sight of the fact that they have a story to tell. And The Sheep Detectives is one of those wise, warm and witty whodunits. May their tribe increase.

The Sheep Detectives is currently running in theatres