Literally from the opening second, Shaun The Sheep delights with visual gag after visual gag. So much so, that multiple viewings will be req...
Literally from the opening second, Shaun The Sheep delights with visual gag after visual gag. So much so, that multiple viewings will be required to take them all in. That aside, the gags do come thick and fast and are brilliantly realised. While a cow flying over the moon (incredibly well done) might sound a bit stupid in this day and age, Aardman animation have realised this beautifully. As they have done with the other million or so visual gags.
TV and children owners will be well familiar with Shaun The Sheep, and now this lovable bundle of wool, along with his farmyard friends, make the leap to the big screen. When Shaun decides he needs to take a break from the same old hum-drum life a sheep leads, he finds himself (and his woolen compadres) on quest in the big city to rescue their farmer, who after hitting his head in a freak incident, loses his memory and becomes a hairdresser. Complete with a Wolverine inspired marketing campaign.
Some might find Shaun The Sheep a bit disconcerting as there is no dialogue whatsoever. Instead, grunts, groans and muffled speech make up the bulk of the soundtrack, with the occasional catchy song thrown in for good measure. Unfortunately, the grunts and muffles leave the movie devoid of any real emotion for the best part, and that’s a shame, as visually it really is stunning. Grunts and groans may be fine for a TV show, but for 85 minutes, they are a bit of a strain. However, it’s a small gripe as the aforementioned brilliant visuals are simply stunning and at times compensate well for the lack of dialogue.
Aardman really leave no stone unturned with a wonderfully realised big city and an equally wonderful countryside. All painstakingly created frame by frame.
While Shaun The Sheep is geared towards the younger kids, there’s enough here to keep everybody entertained, and the finale itself is rather inspired. It’s just a pity that the story is poorly translated onto screen and it does take some time to get going, and while it feels disjointed in the beginning it does come together.
Shaun The Sheep is full of charm, amazing visuals and that song at the end will stick in your head for days. Well worth a watch. Sheeptastic!
