FILM REVIEW: A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE – FARMAGEDDON (U) ESP RATING: 3.5/5

Let’s be fair, legendary stop-motion animation studio Aardman – the creators of Wallace and Gromit – is pretty much a British institution, and they’ve yet to make a bad TV episode, let alone movie.

Pretty much everything they’ve touched has turned to gold.

And their winning streak continues with another competent Nick Park character-inspired entry – with this sequel to Shaun the Sheep’s 2015 solo debut.

As expected – a bit like with Pixar/Disney movies – there’s plenty of colourful fun to be had here for youngsters, as well as some very clever humorous moments that adults who grew up with the Aardman stable will lap up.

When alien Lu-La (Amalia Vitale), who boasts otherworldly powers, crash-lands near Mossy Bottom Farm, mischievous Shaun (voiced by Justin ‘Mr Tumble’ Fletcher) goes on a mission to shepherd the intergalactic visitor home – before a sinister organisation can capture her.

In the meantime Shaun’s every step is tracked by sheep dog Bitzer (John Sparkes) as their owner, Chris Morrell’s Farmer John, looks to cash-in on the recent extra-terrestrial sightings by quickly erecting his own theme park entitled ‘Farmageddon’.

Which ends up looking like something more befitting Brian Potter’s comical makeshift ‘health hazard’ theme park from Peter Kay’s TV series Phoenix Nights.

And while this never reaches the heights of ingenuity that was bestowed on Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – arguably due to the lack of the ‘Queen’s English’ spoken in the movie – it still offers more than enough entertainment to be another worthy Aardman entry that provides plenty of enjoyment.

And it doesn’t outstay its welcome.

Which makes this a good old-fashioned solid slice of British stop-motion capture fun for all the family – and you definitely wouldn’t be a sheep to follow.

ESP Rating: 3.5/5

Gavin Miller

Voice Cast: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Andy Nyman, Chris Morrell, Joe Sugg & Amalia Vitale

Running Time: 1 Hr 26 Mins

Director: Will Becher & Richard Phelan

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