FARMAGEDDON: A SHAUN OF THE SHEEP MOVIE

UK, 2019, 86 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Chris Morrell, Andy Nyman, Kate Harbour.
Directed by Will Becher, Richard Phelan.

Do you enjoy Shaun the Sheep? He is Aardman Studios gift to younger audiences – but not excluding older audiences. Shaun first appeared alongside those favourite Aardman Studios characters (Britain’s gift to the world of cinema animation), Wallace and Gromit. He then had his own television series and, several years ago, his first feature film. Here he is again.

Shaun lives at Mossy Bottom Farm along with the rest of the sheep. They seem to have a happy life although they frequently get up to mischief, especially Shaun, and are continually under the disciplinary scrutiny of the farm dog, Bitzer Bitzer is into restrictions, putting up forbidding signs all over the place. The farmer is preoccupied with his tractor. So, the setting is familiar. However, the Aardman writers must have a very soft spot for ET. So many of the younger audiences will have seen ET who, in fact, it is almost 40 years old) and will recognise the story of a spaceship arriving on earth (a mini Close Encounter) and an attractive little creature, Lu- La, is stranded on earth, and, of course, wants to go home.

Shaun discovers Lu- La, who has a penchant for pizza, and so begins a whole lot of comic adventures. This is not a comedy of words but of situations, suggestions, hums and has, gestures. After some initial hesitation, Bitzer, of course, will do his bit to help things along. The farmer is more practical and pragmatic and decides to turn his property into a theme park, with the enjoyable title Farmageddon. It is, of course, not quite the end of the world.

But, it could be for Lu- La. A government agent, severe in appearance and attitude, Miss Red, with her assistant robot, is determined, more than determined, to hunt down the alien. It seemed she had some unpleasant experiences in her childhood with another close encounter a relentless mission.

Comedy, adventures, dangers in the theme park, rescues, Lu- La’s parents, plenty of ingredients to keep a young audience very happy – not to forget some mayhem in a supermarket. Some travel in space.

But, what about the adults, especially those who have fond memories of Wallace and Gromit? There are enough sight gags throughout the film to make it enjoyable. There are plenty of references to other movies and science-fiction themes. While the children might be laughing out loud, many parents and grandparents will be having a gleeful chuckle.

1. The popularity of Shaun the Sheep, television series, movies? The target audience, children, adults? Audience familiarity with Sean and his activities?

2. Aardman Studios, their claymation style, stop motion photography? The range of characters, movement, layouts? The musical score?

3. Mossy Bottom, the farm, the sheep, Bitzer and his discipline, his demanding notices and forbidding activities? The farmer, preoccupation with his tractor? The background of the town? The supermarket scene? Entertainment at the fair?

4. The close encounter background, the ET style character? A tale for children? The adults picking up all the references to science fiction films, jokes?

5. The humorous characters, situations, communicating by sound and action rather than words? Humour for children? Chuckles for adults?

6. The farm, the sheep, forming a community, Shaun and his role, his character, the activities? Bitzer, his character, discipline, notices, intervening?

7. The close encounter, the ET character?

8. Audiences familiar with close encounter stories, the landing of the space ship, the little creature lost, the food, the attraction to pizza, Shaun and his care? Bonding? The response of the sheep?

9. The authorities, the agent, Red, the story of her past and close encounters? Her mission, determination, activities? The robot assistant?

10. The farmer, the tractor, finding the creature, his idea, commercial, setting up Farmageddon? The money?

11. Bitzer, bonding with Shaun, the help? Going inside the space ship, the probe?

12. The supermarket scene and the mayhem, excitement at the fair?

13. Lu- La, character, the parents, signals, bonding with Shaun, the fair? The space ship, inside? The departure?

14. The happy ending, the creature return into space, life resuming at Mossy Bottom?