"Hugh Jackman takes top billing in The Sheep Detectives as murder victim George Hardy, but the movie's real leads are its animal characters, which are all members of George's flock of artfully computer-generated sheep. There's Sebastian (Bryan Cranston), a brooding Icelandic ram who keeps to himself, and Cloud (Regina Hall), a fluffy Cheviot known for her looks. Sir Ritchfield (Patrick Stewart) is a doughty elder Boreray with majestic horns, but Mopple (Chris O'Dowd), a doofy Merino, turns out to be deceptively wise himself."
"Then there's Lily, a tan Shetland voiced with devastating sincerity by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who takes it upon herself to lead an investigation into her beloved owner's death. Lily is universally acknowledged to be the brainiest member of the group. They aren't stupid, but they have a generally sheepy outlook and priorities, chief among them keeping themselves as comfortable and unbothered as possible. (In a moment of frustration with her peers, Lily points out that "sheep" are what humans call other humans who can't think for themselves.)"
"When Lily dares to venture off the land where she's spent her entire life, she's not just confronting a mystery but a larger reality that's more complicated than she ever imagined. It makes The Sheep Detectives a fascinating movie for kids, but it's an improbably effective and tear-jerking one for adults as well. The film, which was adapted from Leonie Swann's novel Three Bags Full by writer Craig Mazin and director Kyle Balda, is technically a cozy mystery set in a stylized English village full of actors who only sometimes speak with English accents."
George Hardy is found dead, and his flock of artfully computer-generated sheep becomes the focus of the story. Sebastian, Cloud, Sir Ritchfield, and Mopple each bring distinct personalities, while Lily, a tan Shetland voiced with sincerity, takes charge of the investigation. The sheep are not stupid, but they approach the world with limited experience and strong priorities centered on comfort and being unbothered. Their understanding of humans is naive, yet Lily’s leadership and intelligence drive the search for answers. Leaving the land where she has lived her whole life forces Lily to confront a larger, more complicated reality. The mystery unfolds in a stylized English village with a cozy tone and emotional impact.
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