Film Review: Shaun the Sheep

Damian Magee reviews the latest offering from Aardman Animations. Damian is a West Australian writer and reviewer and a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society. He’s a life long fan of crime, sci-fi, anime, literature, history, biography, TV & films who has been writing reviews, non-fiction, & presenting seminars on these genres for the past 30 years. 

The latest film from Aardman Animations is Shaun the Sheep, a feature length version of the TV show.  It is a delight seeing Aardman doing what they do best: stop-motion animation.  This film is about Shaun going from the farm to the big city with fun results.

Shaun and the sheep flock want a day of summer holiday, so have to concoct a plan to keep the farmer in bed, in a caravan, and asleep for the day.  After a series of unfortunate events, the farmer ends up in the big city, lost and with amnesia.  Shaun, the sheep flock, and Bitzer the dog go in search of him, having to navigate the hostile city streets, and the rabid animal control officer voiced by Omid Djalili.

It’s wonderful to see the stop-motion animation breathe life into these characters.  I like that the film gives you a brief flashback to the farmer starting out as a young man, with a puppy (Bitzer), and a lamb (Shaun).  The opening shows Shaun getting his famous haircut, setting up a vital plot point further on.  Like the TV series, the film is filled with wonderful gags similar to the great silent comedies.  A great example is where Shaun and the flock are in disguise in a restaurant and chaos ensues.  Some might find the plot a little thin, but there are jokes aimed at both adults and children, so all can enjoy.

There is a very silly ending in the credits, so stay if you can.  Shaun the Sheep is a good length at baa-rely 85 minutes.