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| Review by by Elizabeth Robbins |
Produced by Paul Kewley, Julie Lockhart
Written and Directed by Richard Starzak, Mark Burton
Story by Mark Burton
Based on Shaun the Sheep by Nick Park
Starring Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes,
Omid Djalili, Richard Webber, Kate Harbour,
Tim Hands, Andy Nyman, Simon Greenall
Being a fan of Aardman Animations (Wallace and Gromit series) I was
looking forward to seeing the Shaun the Sheep feature.
looking forward to seeing the Shaun the Sheep feature.
I went into the
viewing hopeful, but reserved due to the fact that Aardman’s past films
Chicken Run and Flushed Away, both which were made in partnership with
Dreamworks, didn’t quite live up to Wallace and Gromit or the Shaun the
Sheep television series.
viewing hopeful, but reserved due to the fact that Aardman’s past films
Chicken Run and Flushed Away, both which were made in partnership with
Dreamworks, didn’t quite live up to Wallace and Gromit or the Shaun the
Sheep television series.
I also wasn’t convinced that Shaun could
handle a full length feature.
handle a full length feature.
Can you really entertain a theater full
of sugared-up children with some clay puppets and no dialogue?
of sugared-up children with some clay puppets and no dialogue?
The answer is a resounding “yes”.
Writers/Directors Mark
Burton and Richard Starzak have made a charming family film that will
entertain both children and adults alike.
Burton and Richard Starzak have made a charming family film that will
entertain both children and adults alike.
Shaun and his fellow flock
are tired of their monotonous routine. One day Shaun comes up with a
plan to shake things up. The consequences cause Shaun to lose his
Farmer in the Big City, and it is up to Shaun, his fellow sheep, and
sheepdog Bitzer to find their farmer and get him back to the farm.
are tired of their monotonous routine. One day Shaun comes up with a
plan to shake things up. The consequences cause Shaun to lose his
Farmer in the Big City, and it is up to Shaun, his fellow sheep, and
sheepdog Bitzer to find their farmer and get him back to the farm.
Shaun
the Sheep is a refreshing oasis after trudging through a desert of over
stimulated, loud, brash children’s animated films. Shaun the Sheep
doesn’t rely on fast-editing, bright flashing colors, and an over
abundance of toilet humor á la Minions to entertain it’s viewers. It
just comes down to good, old-fashion storytelling, and spot-on animation
that makes each of the characters engaging.
the Sheep is a refreshing oasis after trudging through a desert of over
stimulated, loud, brash children’s animated films. Shaun the Sheep
doesn’t rely on fast-editing, bright flashing colors, and an over
abundance of toilet humor á la Minions to entertain it’s viewers. It
just comes down to good, old-fashion storytelling, and spot-on animation
that makes each of the characters engaging.
Shaun
the Sheep is what I like best about family movies; it is there to
entertain the whole family. Kids will laugh at the obvious visual humor
and cute animals. Adults will laugh at the more subtle humor written
for them.
the Sheep is what I like best about family movies; it is there to
entertain the whole family. Kids will laugh at the obvious visual humor
and cute animals. Adults will laugh at the more subtle humor written
for them.
As an adult, who can’t relate to Shaun’s revolt against the
daily grind and dreaming of getting away from it all?
daily grind and dreaming of getting away from it all?
Shaun
the Sheep never panders to the audience, nor does it treat the audience as
if it is too dumb to get a joke. It takes it’s time without dragging.
One of my favorite jokes of the whole film doesn’t even deliver the
punch line until the credits, but the pay off is perfect.
the Sheep never panders to the audience, nor does it treat the audience as
if it is too dumb to get a joke. It takes it’s time without dragging.
One of my favorite jokes of the whole film doesn’t even deliver the
punch line until the credits, but the pay off is perfect.
For
me, Shaun the Sheep harkens back to the Muppets when Jim Henson was
still alive and at the helm. It works to hit on more than one level.
It is sweet without being syrupy.
me, Shaun the Sheep harkens back to the Muppets when Jim Henson was
still alive and at the helm. It works to hit on more than one level.
It is sweet without being syrupy.
The film isn’t just shiny for the sake
of being shiny. There is a real love of craftsmanship that shows in
every background, character detail, and story element. The writers can
reference pop culture without out it being just a cheap laugh, and
instead use the reference to color the make the world they created more
relatable to our own.
of being shiny. There is a real love of craftsmanship that shows in
every background, character detail, and story element. The writers can
reference pop culture without out it being just a cheap laugh, and
instead use the reference to color the make the world they created more
relatable to our own.
One of the best things I
can say about the film is it made a couple of hardened movie critics
sitting near me laugh like children, and leave the theater with a smile. That is an achievement in and of itself.
can say about the film is it made a couple of hardened movie critics
sitting near me laugh like children, and leave the theater with a smile. That is an achievement in and of itself.
If that can happen, it’s
definitely worth checking out.
definitely worth checking out.
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