When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it's up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.
Benign, animal-based hi-jinks, frantic chases along country lanes, a constant soundtrack of squeaks, grunts and snorts, beautifully rendered stop-motion, all drenched in a haze of geniality and glee.
As with all of Aardman's productions, the level of craft on display is breathtaking, with each frame packed with tiny details that will reward future viewings. This is a beautifully made, hugely entertaining comedy that the whole family can enjoy.
A Lower key than Wallace and Gromit or Pirates, but tightly packed with charm.
Flocking marvellous.
Aardman’s big-screen version of the stop-motion TV series is jam-packed with gags, visual ideas and narrative invention.
Great fun.
There's an emotional undertow to the storytelling but the gentle irony and very British understatement ensure that the film never sinks into woolly mawkishness.
I had my doubts that Shaun could make the leap from seven-minute TV episodes to big screen stardom (talk about ideas above your sheep-pen, I thought) but he pulls it off with aplomb.
I could feel it scrubbing my soul clean like a cinematic pumice stone.
The Bristol-based animation studio’s signature style and wit is very much present and correct, alleviating any worries that a dialogue-free movie about a sheep is a plasticine step too far.
An exuberant, child-friendly feature.
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General release. Check local listings for show times.
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