Shaun the Sheep : The Movie

When Mossy Bottom Farm is a hive of activity it could exhaust the most energetic of animal. So after a lot of planning Shaun and the sheep gang decide to get a well earned day of rest. Creating a cunning plan that was originally fool proof they did not expect anything to go wrong. When they fool the farmer in to thinking it is still bed time and hide him in the caravan on the farm, What could go wrong? Sadly everything and they have to rescue him and the farm before it is too late.

The thing I love with Shaun the Sheep is that he is a welcomed visual comic delight. Funny and thoughtful but written and directed in such a way as to be totally visual. I have been told when studying scriptwriting that the power of a script comes from the visuals put into the work. The screen writer is often introducing the film maker via these constructed realms to the world that is being created and controlled. The dialogue is not always as essential to the craft, as the telling of the story via the scenario and the descriptions. With Shaun the five or ten minute pieces work a treat and can be watched often alone or with kids and have the desired effect. I can imagine that the scripts are so strong that they literally have a team that smile at the very idea of creating another series of 15 or 20 episodes. I can only image what the reaction would have been when they were given the green light to make this movie, with a 3 act structure, arcs and story.

When we come to this 85 minute movie of Shaun much would have been different and not least because of the length of script and story. You see what happens is that the visual construct is far harder to have as tight and as well crafted. You need to build on ideas, set ups need to become pay offs, motivations and characters need to have shape and volume. You will need arcs, journeys and of course a catalyst for attention. This does not happen as smoothly as it should or could. The reason in this is simply that Shaun has no depth. For a kids film that is a given but the paper thin idea of the Farmer stuck in a caravan is soft even in a kid's mind. The film will feel a little laboured for adults because of this reason alone. But Shaun has the ability to keep you involved and entertained no matter what age. All fans know the series works mainly because he isn't the center. The truth in that case is that he is little more than the bun of the burger.... The meat comes from the side kicks. I speak directly to the target audience of kids aged 3-10 (I am a big one, so this should work!). You will laugh as much at them as you do at Shaun. You love the balance in the group as it rounds off the many moments the pace is slowing. Just as the Farmer lends us the propulsion to lead the story on, so these guys have your heart and laugh buds!

Animation is first class and Aardmann never fail in this and once again their style of craft is at its peak. The score and sound craft is top notch, with this again they are masters. I have to give credit for this bold style and body. It is with no doubt that they are the sole group that stand up to the American titans. The odd thing is it feels a little overly clean and unlike Wallace and Gromit, it loses a little bit of the authenticity of creativity. In English I mean it is a little bland and lacks that feel of a person sweating over it for hours for say 12 frames of film...But then it is still a worthy addition to a great library of works. The kids will love it but you will be a little harder to please...Dvd