The Sheep Detectives Parent Guide

Sheep are usually described as mindless followers but George Hardy (Hugh Jackman) knows better. The shepherd recognizes each member of his flock as an individual, naming them and reading detective stories aloud to them every evening. George has no idea that his sheep can understand the whodunits, or that they are absorbing lessons about solving crimes as they listen to his soothing voice.

When George’s body is found, the sheep are devastated but Lily, the smartest sheep (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Mopple, the only sheep who can’t forget anything (voiced by Chris O’Dowd) decide that they are going to help the village’s clueless police constable (Nicholas Braun) discover who performed the dastardly deed and obtain justice for their shepherd.

The rest of the tale unfolds in a fashion familiar to fans of murder mystery novels: there are numerous suspects, loads of motives, and a final, dramatic confrontation when the truth is revealed. And, of course, the loyal sheep are critical to uncovering the truth. Best of all, the drama is buoyed up by a general sense of dottiness, a term the Brits use to describe amiable eccentricity. This is a silly film, but it’s also sweet and squeaky clean, which makes it suitable for most families – and even for adults who want a low-stress film with moments of laughter and heartwarming sentiment.

Parents can be assured that the level of negative material is about as low as it can be in a movie focused on murder. There is a brief view of a dead body, a quick look at someone spiking a drink, a fight between two people, and a scene where an animal dies to save others. No sex, no swearing, no drugs. If you’re a mystery afficionado and want to introduce your older children to the genre, rest assured that The Sheep Detectives is the perfect gateway movie. 

As an added bonus, the story even manages to touch on a few serious themes. The most significant is that of bigotry and inclusion, focused on a “winter lamb”. The majority of sheep are born in the spring, and in this tale, the flock rejects a lamb born in winter for being “different”. Parents will undoubtedly approve as their kids soak up lessons about overcoming prejudice, accepting others, and making space for those who aren’t like them. The script also hits existential notes with discussions of death: the sheep believe that they don’t die but turn into clouds instead. 

Fans of grittier murder mysteries will want to skip The Sheep Detectives but it hits a spot that Hollywood too often misses. There’s a market for kid-friendly films that won’t drive adults senseless with boredom; films that adults will watch willingly and with pleasure. Hopefully moviegoers will vote with their wallets and encourage moviemakers to create more films that everyone can enjoy.

About author

Kirsten Hawkes

Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.