A simple sheep who ends up going on an amazing adventure
Ardman Animation is pretty well known in the United Kingdom. Many years ago it came up with two simple characters named Wallace and Gromit that are very well known there. There have been about four shorts, one feature film starring these great characters and a few years ago there was a number of newshorts put together called Cracking Contraptions. They were all made with stop motion animation, a style of animation that is very time consuming but when done right the results are astounding.
The third film that Wallace and Gromit starred in was called A Close Shave, and this was where audiences were first introduced to Shaun the sheep. He was a simple but lovable sheep that the public fell in love with. A number of years later Shaun got his own animated show, and now he is starring in his very own movie. It is a very good film that is simple but is sure to be loved by kids of all ages. There is plenty for adults to enjoy here as well and is the perfect movie to see with the family this Friday.
Shaun the sheep lives a simple monotonous life. He lives on a farm where not much is going on. The farmer who owns him follows a rigorous schedule and although Shaun loves his owner, recently things have become far too boring for him. He comes up with a plan one day to liven things up a bit and change the normal routine, but something goes wrong. A mistake is made, and Shaun is to blame for what has happened. He decides it is up to him to make things right, but it won’t be easy. He has to take a trip to the big city, somewhere he has never been before. Can he correct this mistake in time? What will he have to do to make things right again? And what kind of lessons and hardships will he have to endure along the way?
I have been a fan of Ardman and Nick Park since the first Wallace and Gromit short came out. I recently re-watched Curse of the Were Rabbit and liked it a lot more than I did as a teenager. But there was some uncertainty about this picture. Shaun was a good supporting character in A Close Shave, but there was doubt in my mind that he could hold his own in his own film. The trailer doesn’t show much of the film either, so you may think this is a film that is okay to miss out on. Trust me you shouldn’t do that. There are more heartfelt moments and life lessons here than you would expect, and you may find yourself wiping tears from your eyes in some pivotal scenes. It is one of the best films Nick Park has ever made with a plot that everyone can relate to.
For these reasons this movie deserves 8.5/10. It has a great soundtrack and the animation is unbelievable. Each locale looks very realistic and the characters all have some part to play. But the best thing about this movie is its message. It tells people that family doesn’t have to be blood, it can be deeper and stronger than that. It also shows what happens when that unit is damaged and the trials you may have to go through to build it again. The story takes viewers on an amazing journey that brings with it growth and change for the better.
If you enjoy stop motion animation, you will want to see this movie. If you are a fan of Wallace and Gromit, this is a film you must check out. This is a great film to see with your family and there is little to be said negatively about it. Ardman Animation has done it again and this is a one of a kind picture that doesn’t come to theaters everyday.
You can see the trailer here:
