NEW YORK (OSV News) – Like the creatures for which it’s named, director Kyle Balda’s comic mystery “The Sheep Detectives” (Amazon MGM) might be expected to be innocuous at worst and rather cuddly at best. Yet, as scripted by Craig Mazin, this adaptation of Leonie Swann’s 2005 novel “Three Bags Full” includes material at odds with revealed truth.
In the bucolic English countryside, devoted shepherd George Hardy (Hugh Jackman) treats his flock with affection and discernment, recognizing the individual personality of each of its members. For their part, the ovines return his affection, especially appreciating his slightly eccentric custom of reading them detective stories every evening.
As a result of this habit, when George unexpectedly turns up dead amid mysterious circumstances, his anthropomorphized former charges have the necessary skills to aid in the ensuing investigation. That’s just as well since Tim (Nicholas Braun), the local police officer assigned to the case, is hopelessly inept.
Led by sharpwitted Lily (voice of Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and wise Mopple (voice of Chris O’Dowd), the herd set out to discover who took their guardian’s life. As they do so, they’re observed from a distance by cynical loner Sebastian (voiced by Bryan Cranston).
Among the humans, George’s estranged daughter Rebecca (Molly Gordon) soon falls under suspicion since she’s the principal heir to his property according to the terms of the will read out by his lawyer, Lydia (Emma Thompson). Anxious to vindicate Rebecca, for whom he has fallen at first sight, Tim is joined in hunting for clues by visiting reporter Elliot (Nicholas Galitzine).
The small town’s Anglican minister, Rev. Hillcoate (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith), is shown to be a hypocrite who’s harboring a dark secret. But this negative portrayal of a clergyman, it develops, is just one element in a larger pattern.
In a scene played for laughs, the sheep pass Rev. Hillcoate’s church and have a discussion about God. Their dialogue presents Christian theology as a muddle of self-contradictory ideas.
Granted, the mysteries of the faith might seem confusing to an outsider. To take only the most relevant example, Jesus is at once the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God.
The perplexity such beliefs might inspire among the uninstructed could be dealt with in a jocular way without falling into irreverence. Here, however, the tone is flippant if not outright satirical.
Mazin’s screenplay also informs viewers that sheep share a mythological belief that they don’t die. Instead, they turn into clouds.
This comforting falsehood is mixed in with the notion that ewes and rams have the ability to forget unpleasant or painful truths. In fact, his proteges almost decide to consign George to oblivion. In the end, though, they learn the lesson that the dead live on in the memory of those left behind. Unfortunately, the narrative implies that this is the only way to transcend death.
On a positive note, “The Sheep Detectives” does promote teamwork and decry prejudice. But such standard Hollywood values hardly compensate for the picture’s profoundly misguided treatment of sacred topics. It’s a shame that a potentially enjoyable movie should, in the end, wander so far astray.
The film contains skewed religious ideas, mature themes and a single crass expression. The OSV News classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
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