Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)

 Aardman Studios have created a number of memorable characters, but when they were making the Wallace & Gromit short 'A Close Shave', no one could have predicted that a new character would steal the spotlight, especially as this character was a sheep. But lo and behold: the sheep proved so popular, they reworked the character and gave him his own series with 'Shaun the Sheep' that focused on hilarious shenanigans on a small farm. Best of all: it worked like the slapstick of old, namely without an ounce of dialogue, everything being told through physical humour and facial expressions. 

Not an easy feat, to say the least, but it worked. However, when they decided to actually make a full length film this way, there was a bit of trepidation. Would a full film without dialogue work just as well as the shorts? 

Turns out: yes, it can. 

Shaun and his fellow sheep have grown quite bored of the mundane life on the farm: every day is exactly the same and they've had it. So they hatch a plan to get a day off from the usual. Bitzer the dog is lured away and the farmer is hypnotised to sleep, so the sheep can paint the farm red (instead of the town and yes, I have done better puns with sayings. Don't judge.). Alas, when the trailer where they have locked the farmer in gets loose and rolls towards the big city (aptly named 'Big City'), things get out of hand rather quickly. The farmer gets concussed and loses his memory. He accidentally acquires a job at a local hairdresser's because he has a peculiar style of shaving people's hair that becomes a trend after a celebrity gets his hair done like this. 

Meanwhile, the sheep are also heading into the city in order to find their farmer, but it isn't easy. For one, they aren't used to so many people, buildings and cars; secondly: the guy from the local pound is hunting them mercilessly, as he can't abide unsupervised animals on the streets. Lots of problems then, so will the sheep finally find their farmer and help him regain his memory?

As you might expect, the animation is spotless. Doubly so because it's all stop-motion clay animation and it is wonderful. The movements and expressions are fluid and there's so much heart and acting put into this, you can't help but admire it. If you realise they could only produce about two seconds of footage every day, it makes it all even more impressive. And like stated earlier: not a word is uttered in the entire film, so almost everything is done through stances and facial expressions. Quite a performance. 

The story itself is a wonderful time. It has some action, some tension (an especially tense finale, actually) and a boatload of gags and jokes that land almost every time. It's insane how funny this film is, but this is due in large part to the timing of the jokes. Too much and it becomes tiring, too little and it's boring. Here, they almost strike the perfect balance and you will be entertained throughout. 

Strnge how a comedy with only sounds and lots of bleating can express more than a talkative film, but there you have it. 'Shaun the Sheep Movie' is enormously entertaining and a true delight to watch over and over, not just for kids. Is it on par with say, 'Chicken Run'? Maybe not, but it still is bloody brilliant.