“Cozy murder” is a thing because it’s an easy way for our society to reassure itself that justice will be done. What’s more, we all fear the reaper, and working out how to manage our inevitable end is one of the most important things we do, individually and collectively. This means it is very difficult to innovate in the cozy murder space as every possible not-too-gruesome crime has been investigated by every possible detective, whether police, lady of a certain age or someone who’s both. Then the German author known only by her pseudonym Leonie Swann came along. In 2006 she published a novel, Glennkill, which became a global bestseller with the English title Three Bags Full. Its unique selling point for the cozy murder market? The investigators of a murder were a flock of sheep.
This is, not to put too fine a point on it, insane, but it’s so crazy it does just work. The book – and now its movie adaptation, The Sheep Detectives – succeeds by never forgetting the difference between animals and people and the humour in those differences. Sheep have their own skills and abilities, their own ways of looking at the world, and their own priorities. But the ways in which the animals here help the humans solve a murder is one of the most charming cozy murders in some time. The Sheep Detectives is a genuine mystery appropriate for all ages, it is genuinely emotional, and the entire experience is a genuine delight.
In a village in England lives a farmer and shepherd named George (Hugh Jackman). His flock includes Lily, the smartest sheep in the world (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Mopple who never forgets anything (voiced by Chris O’Dowd), aloof ram Sebastian (voiced by Bryan Cranston) and inquisitive lamb Zora (voiced by Bella Ramsey). In the evenings George reads murder mysteries to his flock who really enjoy guessing who did it, though Lily always solves the crimes first. Then one sad morning the sheep discover George unmoving in the field and realise he is dead. Tim the local policeman (Nicholas Braun, an absolute comedy hero) doesn’t quite seem up to investigating a murder, so the sheep resolve to assist. The reading of George’s will provides plenty of suspects, including a surprise daughter (Molly Gordon), the local butcher (Conleth Hill), the village hotelier (Hong Chau) and the farmer next door (Tosin Cole). A journalist named Elliot (Nicholas Galitzine) is also on the spot, and he throws himself into helping Tim with the investigation in order to improve his career. Emma Thompson also shows up as George’s lawyer, and other sheep are voiced by Brett Goldstein, Patrick Stewart, Regina Davis and Rhys Darby. No partridge in a pear tree, but a chicken does briefly feature. Aren’t we lucky VFX has advanced so far all these imaginary animals and real people can work together to delight us?
And delight us they do. The gaps between animal and human understanding as the crime is investigated are very thoroughly explored. Sebastian has had more life experience than the other sheep and through the investigation begins to share what he knows, such as what a road is and where the invisible man made of bread named God lives. The voice actors especially clearly had a wonderful time. What’s more the secrets uncovered through the investigation are more affecting than you’d think. People in the audience around me were sniffling at a couple points, which was completely unexpected. Director Kyle Balda and writer Craig Mazin are very good at building mood, whether it’s the cheery slapstick of the investigations or the more serious moments. Mr. Jackman, who should do a lot more of this kind of non-action work, has a great opening monologue about his farm and his flock that introduces the main players with elegance. There’s a sincerity to the whole experience that enables the mood shifts to flow very naturally. It also handles its tricky issues with a light touch that really is appropriate for the whole family. It’s remarkable that the ugliness and the bad things in the world are handled here in a direct but uplifting way that even the littlest member of your family could appreciate. Most cozy murders aim for this vibe but generally fall short, and it’s so impressive at how completely The Sheep Detectives succeeds.
The book has a sequel, Big Bad Wool, and while a series of The Sheep Detectives movies might be too much to hope for, if this one does well it wouldn’t be a baaad idea.*
*Using only one sheep-themed pun in this review demonstrates a remarkable level of restraint, don’t ewe think?
The Sheep Detectives is now in theaters.
Learn more about the film at the IMDB site for the title.
You might also like…
