I find it impossible to dislike Aardman Animations. Sure, chickens don’t have teeth and Claymation is creepy for some, but, honestly, how can you dislike a production team constantly exploring the POV of farm animals? It’s like if Gary Larson put his efforts into film making instead of cartooning.
Teen rebel and ovine leader Shaun the Sheep Movie wants the day off; wouldn’t it be nice for all the sheepmovies to relax in farmer’s house for the day? Maybe order pizza, watch something on the telly? Brits still say “telly,” yes? Aardman films always need a schemer and Shaun answers the call of the mild. Intense misdirection leads to the key moment of making the farmer fall asleep, which is easily achieved in cartoon fashion by Shaun and his friends constantly circling and jumping a fence in front of the farmer. (A timeless gag, as old as an owl with eyewear and a mortarboard) A little nighty-night, a clock reset, a painted landscape and woohoo! It’s sheep day in the big house.
Fortune does not favor the brave here, however; when the farmer’s trailer gets loose and sails towards the big city, the sheep feel responsible and set off to rectify and atone. Now, this is the part I love about Aardman – the house vacuum is immediately filled by opportunistic pigs – these guys know how to par-tay! Within seconds, the fridge is raided, a (figurative) bomb explodes and Primal Scream’s “Rocks” storms the living room. Kids, it’s best you not ask too many questions at this point.
I’d like to give credit for the voicework here, but, of course, there is really none to give. Well, I suppose these guys whistle and sing
backup from time-to-time, but like the Minions, the sheep –as well as the dog and farmer– never udder (:P) a discernable English syllable among them. While this is adorable, Shaun the Sheep suffers from the same malady as the Minions: their communication failures limit their ability to entertain. It’s like watching Harpo Marx – yes, honking the horn is funny when Chico and Groucho are also around, but when he’s alone, there’s only so much you can do with the horn and eventually there’s a damn harp solo. Now luckily, neither Shaun nor Minions devolved into a harp solo, but when they don’t say words, the writing has to be as sharp as Act I of WALL·E, and it isn’t.
The farmer alone in the city and suffering from amnesia becomes the best story line here; love the hardened criminals at the pound as well – beware that goldfish; he’s a bruiser. I think. Truth is, I found Shaun the Sheep Movie, much like Minions, amiable and forgettable. Maybe if you’re one of those parents who ends up seeing this film ad infinitum, it will stick by the eighth or ninth viewing. I guarantee I’ll never get that far.
A tale not terribly deep
Coaxing a farmer to sleep
While master’s away
The ovine will play
Or is it “pray?” Perhaps. Holy sheep!
Rated PG, 85 Minutes
D: Mark Burton, Richard Starzak
W: Mark Burton, Richard Starzak
Genre: Stuff you as a parent might eventually watch over 400 times
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Rebellious sheep
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: You know those guys who don’t want the cows to be able to turn around?
