In a small countryside town, a clueless policeman, a flock of sheep and a sudden mysterious death: all classic traits of the whodunnit formula, brought to a family audience in the aptly titled The Sheep Detectives. This woolly comedy features an A-list cast, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Lily (the Shetland that leads the sleuthing), Emma Thompson as the victim’s lawyer, Hugh Jackman in a side role as George Hardy, and the lilting brogue of our very own Chris O'Dowd. Fellow Irish actor Conleth Hill (best known as Varys in Game of Thrones) also stars as the butcher, Ham Gilyard.
Directed by Kyle Balda (of the Minions franchise) and based on the 2005 novelThree Bags Full by Leonie Swann. The screenplay, adapted by Craig Mazin, follows a diverse group of characters, primarily the titular fluffy farm animals, as they try to solve the sudden murder of their shepherd. Inspired by the murder mystery novels that their caretaker used to read to them, this gang are quite overconfident in the skills they picked up. Three of the creatures take charge of the investigation and quickly find out that not everything is as clear-cut as it is in the storybooks.
The tone is largely light-hearted, if occasionally tense. However, the film does have depictions of violence (beyond the obvious that comes with it being a murder mystery), and the more emotional moments will definitely cause a few conversions to veganism. The characters have a surprising amount of depth to them, with themes that gave this critic the tiniest bit of whiplash watching it in a theatre full of seven-year-olds. However, the film doesn't let its target audience and emphasis on life lessons get in the way of a rather fun plot.
All the traditional, tried-and-true elements of detective films that have caused so many to fall in love with the genre are still strong and engaging, and the humour never becomes juvenile. In fact, there are one or two jokes that would give the grown-ups watching a good giggle while flying over the children's heads. The characters are lovable and unique, despite their herd mentality, and have satisfying development throughout the film’s almost two-hour runtime.
With a story that is geared towards younger viewers, but occasionally dipping into weightier territory, this film is perfect for families with children between 10 and 13. If you're looking for a funny, but not infantile, experience, this film is sure to leave audiences bleating with laughter.
The Sheep Detectives is in cinemas 8th May 2026.
Senan Jennings is an actor and writer based in Maynooth, known for roles in The Wise Guy, Vivarium, The Unreal and Faithless. He brings a craft-focused perspective to his film reviews.
