Shaun the Sheep The Movie

• Written and Directed by Richard Starzak and Mark Burton
• January 24, 2015 (Sundance) / February 6, 2015 (UK)
• Based on the British television series Shaun the Sheep

Voice Cast

• Shaun, Timmy-Justin Fletcher
• Farmer/Mr. X, Bitzer-John Sparkes
• Trumper-Omid Djalili
• Timmy’s Mum, Meryl-Kate Harbour
• Shirley-Richard Webber
• Slip-Tim Hands
• The Twins-Simon Greenall
• Hazel-Emma Tate
• Celebrity With Hair Trouble-Jack Paulson
• Junior Doctor, Animal Containment Visitor-Henry Burton
• Hospital Consultant-Dhimant Vyas
• Animal Containment Visitor-Sophie Laughton
• Operatic Sheep-Nia Medi James
• Stylists, Maitre D, Golfer, Angry Panto Horse, Hospital Characters-Sean Connolly
• Bus Station Announcer, Hospital Announcer-Stanley Unwin
• Nuts-Andy Nyman
• Himself-Nick Park

Shaun and his flock go to the city to rescue the amnesiac Farmer while an animal control worker pursues them.

I knew nothing about the series Shaun the Sheep other than Aardman Animations was involved. Given other Aardman works that I was familiar with I figured at the minimum this wouldn’t be a total loss. It instead proved to be quite a creative treat in so many ways

Shaun the Sheep The Movie does something that few other movies do and avoids dialogue entirely. Grunts or general noises are heard but there is not a word spoken that I can think of. The plot and thoughts and characterization are all conveyed with expression and actions by the characters.

With sounds over actual dialogue (those voice actors made noises) it is accessible to anyone. It is not hindered by language or even those who have never seen the show. Actions do speak louder than words. Personalities and archetypes are conveyed as well as might be done with language. You can tell there is a larger world, but this is independent of that.

Problems begin when the sheep just want a day off and then in true cartoon fashion come up with an outlandish plot that only works in animation. An errant bonk on the head of the Farmer causes amnesia leading him becoming a hairstylist known as Mr. X unbeknownst to his concerned flock. This gets weird in a way cartoons once commonly did to the point of absurdity like animals dressed as people fooling humans.

This is a country-folk-braving-the-city story. The farm animals led by the titular sheep must venture into the huge, scary human world in an effort to rescue their owner. The humor fluctuates between adult and more child friendly though nothing inappropriate if the kids get it. In the adult moments, the jokes work on two levels with parents that might be viewing this with their kids or by themselves getting both. They reference films kids wouldn’t watch like The Shawshank Redemption of all things!

Of course, there is a villain in this. He is named Trumper and an animal control officer who Shaun and pals repeatedly cross paths with. In perhaps an example of adult humor one of the sheep when they are walking around dressed as a human female catch the eye of a gentleman. Never thought about that until writing this down. I am being as clean as possible in what I thought.

Trumper may be involved in animal control, but his portrayal is closer to that of a big game hunter portrayed to humorous effect. He’s overly serious about everything he does and develops an obsession for no good reason as cartoon villains often can. He keeps getting bested by these creatures and it becomes something he just cannot let slide.

I took the character of Shaun as a good guy (sheep) who often takes the easy way which he regrets. He just doesn’t think. That’s part of the magic here. No one character is mean to be mean necessarily. It’s just some things happen because of who they are. Comedy/events follow from them trying to right their wrong.

Using stop-motion and clay animation techniques creates a strange yet believable environment that evokes ‘happy’ and ‘fun’. The tone of the movie never gets condescending or downbeat on anything while you laugh repeatedly making this perhaps one of the best comedies I’ve seen in quite a while. Why? Because it is funny. It knows how to make the silly generate an audible reaction. Jokes derive from the situation or the characters.

Not a knock but it recycles classic cartoon gags but never makes them feel recycled. Counting sheep or the single thread that humorously undoes an entire sweater or simply getting bumped on the head to cause and undo amnesia. All have been done plenty of times but here that feeling is absent.

It must be said Shaun the Sheep The Movie has plenty of heart. There are moments of sweetness mixed with sadness and it even gets to a point where you think all hope is lost until the characters pull themselves up by their bootstraps and decide there is more they can do. That makes this movie just a little bit special. It touches you emotionally enough that when the Farmer gets his memory back and is happy to be reunited with the sheep or Slip finds a home you feel a little something.

It has themes of love and forgiveness and friendship and maybe grudgingly getting along with those you may not necessarily want to like. That comes in to play with Bitzer as he tries to keep everyone in line basically making him the nemesis of Shaun. They don’t necessarily dislike each other, but they would probably get along better if one was more like the other. That does not mean there is a distinct lesson present. It’s just 84 minutes of fun with a chunk of heart in it and you can’t really go wrong there.

They managed a logical yet very big feeling ending. The villain gets his comeuppance, and the rest of the characters get a happy ending. It’s kind of thrilling in a comedic way with wild and funny ebbs and flows that put success in question followed by some closing scenes saying everything turned out okay or as it should.

Shaun the Sheep The Movie is one of my favorite random choices. I finished this movie with a smile and feeling kind of good. I thought back to scenes and I chuckled or outright laughed and that’s why I heartily recommend this movie to anyone.