Film review: Shaun the Sheep Movie (U, 85 mins)

Animation/Family/Comedy/Action

Bristol-based Aardman Studios works its stop-motion animated magic on a colourful big screen adventure for the mischievous sheep, who first appeared in Wallace and Gromit’s 1995 escapade A Close Shave and has been baad to the bone in a self-titled CBBC series since 2007.

Drawing inspiration from other Aardman films, including Chicken Run, Shaun The Sheep Movie is a ‘shear’ delight, melding slapstick and subtler humour to appeal to young fans and their wranglers.

Directors Mark Burton and Richard Starzack shepherd this romp through various twists and turns at a breathless pace.

They litter the screen with wry visual gags, including an airborne cow clearing the roof of the Over The Moon public house.

Stop-motion visuals burst with colour and action sequences are orchestrated with 
mind-boggling technical precision.

As usual, Shaun is at the centre of the madcap action.

The flock grows tired of the daily routine on Mossy Bottom Farm under the watchful eye of Bitzer the sheepdog.

So the animals hoodwink the Farmer into taking a well-deserved day off so they can do the same.

Star rating: 7/10