Movie Info
Movie Name: Shaun the Sheep Movie
Studio: StudioCanal
Genre(s): Animated/Comedy/Family
Release Date(s): January 24, 2015 (Sundance Film Festival)
MPAA Rating: PG
Shaun the Sheep? Thumbs Up!
Shaun and his flock have pulled a trick on the farmer, but the trick backfires when the farmer ends up in the city with amnesia. Now, the sheep have come to his rescue with the help of their dog friend Bitzer. As the animal control agent Trumper hunts Shaun and his friends, the farmer finds fame as the hot hairstylist Mr. X. Will Mr. X remember his past and will Shaun and his friends ever return to Mossy Bottom Farm?
Directed by Richard Starzak and Mark Burton, Shaun the Sheep Movie spins off the popular British Shaun the Sheep series. Created by Aardman Animations, the characters originally appeared in the Wallace and Gromit short “A Close Shave” in 1995. The film was released to critical praise and a strong box office showing. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Yorick’s got a new do!
I think Aardman Animation is an acquired taste. I can appreciate it, I can enjoy it, but I have a hard time loving the lack of dialogue storytelling that goes with it. I think that it works well in small doses and shorts, but I have a hard time watching a feature length version of the art.
That doesn’t mean this movie is bad by any means, in fact it is quite good. The story and writing (despite lacking real dialogue) is smart and clever. As a whole, the story is rather predictable, but the movie is filled with little visual touches that keep it entertaining.
A lot of those little touches are laugh out loud moments. I particularly like the whole pound scene with the various animals locked up. A fishbowl behind bars (and the fish playing harmonica) plus the intense starring crazy dog make for some great moments. In general, it is moments like this where Shaun the Sheep Movie soars.
Abbey Road?
The animation for the movie also is a great. Like Wallace and Gromit, the characters are extremely expressive. The lack of dialogue is a reason that they must emote their emotions versus just saying what is going on. It also gets around the tricky “talking animals” aspect.
I guess I’m a little jaded as a viewer that something like this does struggle to keep my attention for so long. I recognize that this is better than many of Pixar’s creations and Disney’s work, but they are also lot easier to “drift off” while watching. Shaun and his flock will run again! Shaun the Sheep Movie is followed by A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon in 2019.
Related Links:
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019)
