The Sheep Detectives is one of those rare movies that, to quote Jerry Maguire, “had me at hello”. All it took was the first trailer. I was ready. I mean, Hugh Jackman reading mystery stories to a bunch of CG sheep while Emma Thompson exists as her delicious, delightful self? My body was ready.

The Sheep Detectives follows a group of sheep who resolve to solve the murder of their Shepherd in a quaint English hamlet. Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Galitzine, Emma Thompson, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, and Nicholas Braun co-star in the movie. Kyle Balda directs The Sheep Detectives from a script by Craig Mazin.

For me, The Sheep Detectives was a film that could have gone one of two ways. I was looking for a quirky movie that leaned into the weirdness I saw in the trailer. Any BBC America viewer knows the English countryside is known for its iconic murders and cozy mysteries.

At the same time, though, a movie like this could just as easily swing into “plucky” kids film territory. I couldn’t shake the fear that The Sheep Detectives would be just that, a kind-hearted, pleasant kids’ film. Don’t get me wrong! Kids’ movies are great, if that’s what you’re looking for.

While The Sheep Detectives is PG, it brings together a disarmingly kooky creative team featuring Balda (best known for his work on the “Minion” movies) in the director’s chair and Mazin (the writer of Chernobyl) taking care of the script. What would that partnership even look like? The mind boggled.

The resulting picture is a gentle and good-natured blend bringing together a family friendly pace with an easy, cozy mystery. It’s quirky, but still goes down nice and smooth.

Much of this is thanks to the colorful voice cast who bring the sheep to life. Chris O’Dowd is his memorable self as “Mopple”. Rhys Darby steals scenes in ways that only he can as “Wool-Eyes” and as “Sir. Ritchfield” it is Patrick Stewart’s world and we’re all just living in it. These men step into roles which could just as easily fade into the background and push their characters to the front. They bring these little computer generated sheep to life I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Nicholas Braun, meanwhile, steps in to play the local police constable. I came into the movie skeptical. I admit it. Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather when I realized that Cousin Greg from Succession could effortlessly step into a role like this. This English hamlet is a million miles away from the HBO prestige drama, but as the final credits rolled, his performance left me smitten.

In all honesty? This whole movie left me smitten. Was it as quirky as I wanted? Not really. At the same time though, it wasn’t the “great taste, less filling” family film I was expecting either.

The film’s distinct brand of humor bursts through in every frame. Could this stem from Balda’s experience working with Illumination? I will… perhaps shamefully… admit to having a fondness for their brand of comedy.

Illumination or not, every glance, every winking moment of knowing, every personality filled vocal performance, were exactly what I wanted.

As the final credits rolled, The Sheep Detectives was just my cozy cup of tea. While I can’t say the movie was exactly the knowing, self-referential wackiness I was hoping for, as I left the theater, I didn’t care.

The Sheep Detectives opens May 8th in theaters around the country.