Shaun the Sheep
Director: Mark Burton, Richard Starzak
Starring: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili
85 mins; Class U;
KRS Releasing Ltd
Based on the hugely popular animated TV series, Shaun the Sheep is another lovable and popular character from the Aardman stable. The company has built a reputation on its eccentric story-telling methods through colourful visuals, delightful story lines, quirky characters and a plethora of visual gags that never fail to amuse.
Shaun the Sheep, now 11 years old in sheep years, first appeared in the Wallace & Gromit short film A Close Shave 20 years ago. He has appeared in over 130 TV episodes of his own TV series and has gone on to win two BAFTAs and boasts five million Facebook fans.
It is fitting, therefore, that he now gets his own full-length feature, in 2015, which is the lunar Year of the Sheep.
Shaun and his farmyard friends, live a bright and happy life on Mossy Bottom farm under the constant care and affection of The Farmer.
However, as is quite common, daily farm life becomes a tad routine and predictable. So Shaun decides to take a day off. A good idea indeed, and Shaun and his mates hatch an elaborate plan to keep The Farmer unaware of their intentions.
Yet, things spiral out of control and, having inadvertently gotten rid of The Farmer, they have to travel to the Big City to rescue him… but their secluded and sheltered life on the farm has not prepared them for the chaos and noise they encounter.
No one can deny its irresistible charm
Shaun the Sheep is a film whose story unfolds effortlessly amid a series of hilarious visual gags and colourful humour. There’s a runaway caravan, a ruthless animal catcher, a trendy barber and a posh restaurant, just some of the characters and scenes we encounter – and if the presentation is aimed squarely at the very young members of the audience, broader issues like surviving in a new world or the dangers of taking what we have for granted should engage the adults.
None of the characters, human or animal, actually talks – the animals make, well, animal noises while the humans mutter sounds that don’t sound like recognisable words. And yet, that they communicate so well speaks volumes about the storytelling and animation prowess writer directors Mark Burton and Richard Starzak and their huge technical team bring to the mix.
The film-makers have taken a risk in expanding the TV series, whose episodes are a mere seven minutes long to a 90-minute feature; however they have found a great adventure to tell.
Admittedly, the story sags a little in the middle, but no one can deny the irresistible charm of the story and its four-legged characters led by the irrepressible Shaun.