“The Sheep Detectives” shows at The Eclipse in Breckenridge at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The opening credits had not even rolled when I knew exactly what to expect from “The Sheep Detectives.”
“This is going to be goofy,” whispered my wife, her grin as big as the toothy lion on the MGM logo. That is when the lion opened its mouth and, instead of its icon roar, unleashed a “baaah” of epic proportions. My wife giggled, and so did I, and that was how things went for the next 110 minutes of animated sheep, amateur gumshoeing and earnest life lessons.
“The Sheep Detectives” is the first feel-good family film of summer, where the name – and that bashful lion – tell you exactly what to expect. Sheep solve a crime.
Parents might come for Hugh Jackman, playing a gruff yet kindly shepherd who feeds, protects and entertains his flock, often by reading them books in silly accents. Kids will come for this exact same thing, except they could probably care less it’s Hugh Jackman. They come for the accents and mystery.
It is these mysteries that appeal so strongly to our lead sheep, Lily (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), whose namesake is not revealed until much later in the film. And yet we know right away that George has a soft spot for his smartest sheep. Then again, he also has a soft spot for the wisest sheep, Mopple (voice of Chris O’Dowd), and the one that thinks she’s pretty, and the one with wool in his eyes, and the old one with breath so rank it clears a field faster than cow patties.
This foul breath also plays a role in the plot, which is more Whodunit 101 than a deeply compelling mystery. And there’s nothing wrong with that. “The Sheep Detectives” is a kid’s film at heart, and unlike other kid-friendly dreck – there’s going to be ANOTHER Minions movie?! – it doesn’t talk down to young viewers. It even teaches them a thing or two about the mechanics of plot and story. Sitting in the row across from us was a young girl of 10, maybe 11 years old, and she smiled with glee every time Lily uncovered a new clue.
The girl’s father also seemed to be enjoying himself. The humans in this story are just interesting enough to keep you guessing – and laughing. When a pair of sheep crawl into a jail cell to unveil the final, revelatory clue, the primary suspect says something like, “This is a really weird town.” Her deadpan delivery got the biggest laughs of the night.
Does the mystery hold up? Sure. It’s no Glass Onion, or even Agatha Christie, but the climactic scene, where the bumbling detective puts it all together and captures the culprit before a stunned audience of naysayers, is classic murder mystery. This film is chock full of classic scenes, and director Kyle Balda knows it. His film depends on acknowledging conventions without subverting them.
But even writing a word like “subvert” is too heady for this film. “The Sheep Detectives” is like your favorite woolen sweater: comfy, cozy and familiar, and unabaaah-shedly old-school.
Couldn’t help myself.