SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
The German novel "Three Bags Full (A Sheep Detective Story)" was published just over 20 years ago. It quickly became an international bestseller, and now it has been made into a film called "The Sheep Detectives." If you are on the market for a whodunit the whole family can enjoy, critic Bob Mondello says, and he wrote this line, not me, ewe - get it? Yeah, you do - ewe are in luck.
BOB MONDELLO, BYLINE: Shepherd George Hardy would be the first to tell you he's devoted to his flock.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
HUGH JACKMAN: (As George Hardy) If there's one secret to happiness in my life, it's taking care of the kindest creatures on earth - sheep.
MONDELLO: Played by Hugh Jackman, he feeds them, shears them, gives them homemade medicine, and...
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
JACKMAN: (As George Hardy) When my chores are finished and the sun starts to sink low in the sky, I choose a book to read out loud to them. Detective novels, mysteries, whodunits - all my favorites.
MONDELLO: The sheep peer idly his way as he reads.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
JACKMAN: (As George Hardy, reading) And I know who the real killer was.
(As George Hardy) I like to pretend that they follow along with the story, but I know in my heart that as special as they are, they're still sheep.
MONDELLO: Then he turns to go into his trailer...
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
JACKMAN: (As George Hardy) No more. I'll read the ending tomorrow.
MONDELLO: ...And the camera pans to the pasture full of sheep.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
CHRIS O'DOWD: (As Mopple) Ah, why would he stop there?
RHYS DARBY: (As Wool-Eyes) He was just about to say who the killer was.
BRETT GOLDSTEIN: (As Reggie) The doctor did it.
(As Ronnie) No way.
MONDELLO: The flock turns out to have been following right along. They understand English, it just comes out of their mouths when humans are around as...
(SOUNDBITE OF SHEEP BLEATING)
MONDELLO: ...Bleats, which only becomes a problem when they have something important to say. Alas, the very next morning, they do.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS: (As Lily) Everybody, wake up.
MONDELLO: Something really bad.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
LOUIS-DREYFUS: (As Lily) We found George on the grass, and he's not moving.
MONDELLO: Not breathing, either. This is Lily, the flock's cleverest ewe, though that's not a high bar. She tends to untangle the nightly mystery yarns before the other sheep, and she's soon seeing things around her that feel a lot like clues.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
LOUIS-DREYFUS: (As Lily) I can't stop thinking about George's hat and raincoat.
O'DOWD: (As Mopple) What hat and raincoat?
LOUIS-DREYFUS: (As Lily) Exactly. He came out in a storm. Why didn't he put them on?
MONDELLO: The town's constable, though, isn't asking those questions, even when prodded by a visiting reporter.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
NICHOLAS BRAUN: (As Tim Derry) Probably a heart attack. Not much of a story for you, I'm afraid.
NICHOLAS GALITZINE: (As Elliot Matthews) Unless there's anything out of the ordinary.
BRAUN: (As Tim Derry) Nope, I've looked everywhere - around the caravan, underneath the caravan.
GALITZINE: (As Elliot Matthews) What about inside the caravan?
BRAUN: (As Tim Derry) Worth a shot.
MONDELLO: This policeman's got nothing. Happily, he's also got mutton.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
LOUIS-DREYFUS: (As Lily) We need to help him.
BELLA RAMSEY: (As Zora) Tell us what to do.
LOUIS-DREYFUS: (As Lily) Our shepherd was murdered.
(SOUNDBITE OF SHEEP BLEATING)
LOUIS-DREYFUS: (As Lily) And we shall solve the crime.
MONDELLO: No one's pulling the wool over their eyes. They do confront obstacles - some of their own making - rams, say, who are easily distracted.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
GOLDSTEIN: (As Reggie) I want to bash it.
(As Ronnie) I want to bash it so bad.
LOUIS-DREYFUS: (As Lily) Stop. We've been over this. We don't bash things unless...
GOLDSTEIN: (As Reggie and Ronnie) Unless there's a legitimate cause for bashing.
MONDELLO: Other obstacles just go with the territory.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
BRYAN CRANSTON: (As Sebastian) Do you know what humans call stupid people who can't think for themselves?
RAMSEY: (As Zora) Ducks.
CRANSTON: (As Sebastian) Sheep.
MONDELLO: No bleating around the bush for him. Kyle Balda, who co-directed a couple of the "Minions" movies, is directing live-action here for the first time, but live-action with digital sheep and a vocal cast. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Stewart, Brian Cranston, among the wooly folks. On the human side, Emma Thompson's the most vivid.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
EMMA THOMPSON: (As Lydia Harbottle) I am George Hardy's lawyer. He wrote a will.
TOSIN COLE: (As Caleb) That man had nothing.
THOMPSON: (As Lydia Harbottle) Well, actually, there is $30 million.
LOUIS-DREYFUS: (As Lily) And we have our motive.
MONDELLO: You'd call the film sheer idiocy if not for the flock's frequent wool gathering about grief, mortality and even their sheep's-eye view of religion. They have, of course, overheard Sunday talk of the Lord, our shepherd. Also of redeeming outcasts - an ostracized winter lamb and a ram you might call a lone wolf in sheep's clothing turn out to be team players. "The Sheep Detectives" is not, in short, just a decently engaging murder mystery that's also a bit silly.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE SHEEP DETECTIVES")
BRAUN: (As Tim Derry) What's with them?
MONDELLO: It is also, in the tradition of "Babe" and "Paddington," a tale of tolerance, community and relationsheeps (ph). I'm Bob Mondello.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I'M GONNA BE (500 MILES)")
THE PROCLAIMERS: (Singing) I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more just to be the man who walked 1,000 miles to fall down at your door. When I'm working, yes, I know I'm going to be... Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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