FILM REVIEW: THE SHEEP DETECTIVES (PG) ESP RATING: 4/5

A charming, surprisingly clever family mystery with real old-school heart.

When my seven-year-old son and I first saw the poster for The Sheep Detectives, and he immediately announced that he wanted to see it, I’m not going to lie – I rolled my eyes a little. Yes, I’d done that terrible thing of judging a book by its proverbial cover.

Having now seen it, I can happily admit I was far too quick to judge.

Directed by Kyle Balda – the filmmaker behind animated hits like Minions and The Lorax – The Sheep Detectives brings that same playful energy and warmth to a genuinely entertaining family mystery.

The film follows a group of talking sheep who find themselves caught up in a quirky English countryside murder mystery, filled with suspicious characters, hidden clues, and plenty of chaos along the way. It also boasts a seriously impressive cast, including Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson, alongside voice performances from Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bella Ramsey and Patrick Stewart – all bringing a huge amount of charm and personality to the film’s wonderfully colourful characters.

What surprised me most wasn’t just how much I enjoyed it – it was how invested my son became in the mystery itself. He’s already fascinated by child-friendly spooky adventures like Goosebumps and Ghostbusters, so introducing him to a proper ‘whodunnit’ felt like a natural next step. And honestly, he absolutely loved it. Watching him try to piece together clues and work out who the culprit was became just as entertaining as the film itself.

There’s a warmth to The Sheep Detectives that reminded me of those classic nineties family films – the kind that balanced silliness with genuine heart. It gave me flashes of Matilda and Charlotte’s Web, with that same cosy, mischievous energy running throughout.

Another thing that genuinely caught me off guard was how smart the writing actually is. Beneath the colourful characters and playful humour, there are some genuinely sharp one-liners and clever little jokes aimed at adults too. It never talks down to its audience, which makes a huge difference. This really is one for the entire family.

Quite simply a lovely surprise from start to finish – you’d be baaaaaaa-rmy to miss it!

ESP Rating: 4/5

Mike Clarke

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Galitzine, Emma Thompson & the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Bella Ramsey & Patrick Stewart

Running Time: 1 Hr 49 Mins

Director: Kyle Balda

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk