Summary
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is a silent movie that is a shear delight for all the family. It’s funny, beautifully animated and has a barn-load of references for the adults in the audience.
Shaun the Sheep (Justin Fletcher) and his farmyard pals are back for another big-screen adventure. Shaun’s brand of farmyard hi-jinks are temporarily put on hold when an alien spacecraft crashes near to Mossy Bottom Farm and its inhabitant Lu-La (Amalia Vitale) shows up. With Lu-La in tow, Shaun manages to cause even more trouble than usual.
Aardman Animations are a high watermark when it comes to animation that’s got something for the whole family. Shaun the Sheep is a character who only communicates in bleats, baas and facial expressions but he manages to convey more character, charm, and whimsy than a good number of ‘real’ actors. The film is essentially a silent film, with most of the laughs coming from slapstick humor, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in depth.
Shaun the Sheep has always been pitched more towards the younger audience but I found plenty in there to enjoy. The film tips its (farmer’s) hat at a whole host of classic science fiction; I spotted 2001, Close Encounters and E.T., but I’m sure there were others I missed. Oh, there was a rather nice reference to Jaws tucked away in a supermarket freezer cabinet as well.
The story itself is a fairly straightforward sci-fi tale of a lost alien trying to get home while being pursued by government spooks. Yes, it’s got more than a passing resemblance to E.T. but it also does it with a healthy helping of quaint rural England. There’s just something so quintessentially British about A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and its humor. It’s quirky and inventive but also incredibly accessible.
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is a really nice film that’s funny, sweet and has bags of charm and character. Even though it’s aimed at a younger audience there was still a lot for the grownups in the audience to enjoy. It’s an utter delight and I recommend it to everyone. It’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
