The Sheep Detectives: A Charming Murder Mystery for All Ages (Blu-ray)

The Film:

Writer Craig Mazin has quite a fascinating filmography to his name that includes such goofy films as the third & fourth "Scary Movie" entries, as well as the second & third films of "The Hangover" trilogy. However, when it comes to his few television credits, we find far more refined material such as his incredible "Chernobyl" miniseries, which earned him two Emmys, and the marvelous "The Last of Us," which earned him a WGA Award & three additional Emmy nominations.

While season three of the latter is currently in the works, he has decided to turn his attention to something completely different, and perhaps something rather unexpected: A film adaptation of Leonie Swann's 2005 novel "Three Bags Full" (retitled to "The Sheep Detectives"), a murder mystery with the most unlikely of investigators. Strangely enough, this is something he's actually been working on for about a decade, but only came to the forefront just two years ago with director Kyle Balda ("Minions," "Despicable Me 3") at the helm. While Mazin doesn't have the greatest track record when it comes to writing films, could an acclaimed novel perhaps change that for the better?

The film begins by introducing us to shepherd George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), who lives near the village of Denbrook with his flock. He spends his time taking care of them, even going so far as to read them murder mysteries at bedtime. We also get to know the sheep, including Lily (Voice of Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the smart one who's good at mysteries, Mopple (Voice of Chris O'Dowd), who remembers everything that the other sheep choose to forget, and Sebastian (Voice of Bryan Cranston), a loner and former fighter at a carnival.

When George is discovered dead one morning, visiting reporter Elliot Matthews (Nicholas Galitzine) believes it to be murder, convincing the town's one policeman, Tim Derry (Nicholas Braun), to investigate the case. Naturally, the sheep decide to take up the case on their own, with Lily leading the way. With several suspicious suspects in the mix, including George's own daughter Rebecca (Molly Gordon), will they or the constable be able to solve the crime?

On its outset, "The Sheep Detectives" may seem like a run-of-the-mill kids movie with cute talking animals who spend the day with their owner/caretaker, perhaps leading the viewer to think that this is going to be something along the lines of the 1995 classic "Babe." However, we discover just a short way in that it's dealing with somewhat darker themes that take it in a rather different direction. For those not familiar with the source material (and didn't see a trailer beforehand), the sudden turn into a murder mystery may seem abrupt, and yet, it's actually handled quite well, not only crafting an intriguing whodunit, but skillfully maintaining a nice balance between its lighter & darker elements that will keep both parents & children engaged.

The mystery itself is indeed a compelling one that gives us a long list of possible suspects, almost all of whom are brought together at the reading of the will. It gives you plenty of twists & turns throughout, and while the final solution does seem to come with a bit of guesswork, it ends up being a satisfying enough conclusion to the puzzle. All of this is accompanied by quite an impressive ensemble that includes Hugh Jackman (strangely marketed as the face of the film despite not being in it very much), Nicholas Braun, Emma Thompson, Hong Chau, and Molly Gordon, and that's not to mention the incredible vocal cast that includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Sir Patrick Stewart, and Bella Ramsey.

"The Sheep Detectives" is simply a good-old-fashioned mystery that will likely delight viewers of all ages. It's charming, entertaining, and has quite a lot of talent behind it. Its premise of having sheep help out with a murder investigation may seem a little "out there," but in the hands of screenwriter Craig Mazin and director Kyle Balda, it somehow comes together into a believable romp that just goes to show that even strange concepts like this can work if the right group of filmmakers & actors come together to bring it to life.

Video/Audio:

"The Sheep Detectives" comes to Blu-ray in a 2.00:1, 1080p High Definition transfer of excellent quality, presenting a beautifully sharp picture throughout its entire 109-minute runtime, which perfectly highlights its gorgeous scenic locations. Likewise, the Dolby Atmos-TrueHD audio track is fantastic, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and music in outstanding quality. Overall, MGM has done a marvelous job in both areas for the film's physical debut.

Special Features:

None.

Conclusion:

"The Sheep Detectives" may feature what seems like a really "out there" premise, but thanks to screenwriter Craig Mazin, director Kyle Balda, and an impressive ensemble, it turns into a rather intriguing experience in which they manage to skillfully balance its lighter & darker elements for a delightfully compelling murder mystery that viewers of all ages can enjoy.

Score: 3.5/5

Available on Blu-ray starting tomorrow.

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