Shaun das Schaf: Der Film - UFO-Alarm

IN BRIEF: A family film that has some funny moments in its sci-fi parody.

JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) From Aardman Animation comes its first British sequel to its 2014 feature-length film and popular character, Shaun the Sheep (a spin-off from the delightful Wallace and Gromit series entitled A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon. Nominated for an Academy Award, the movie is diverting fun, but not up to the high standards from this studio.

This installment takes its title character and his flock, along with Farmer John and his dog, Bingo, into sci-fi territory. The story is slight, and like most animated films these days, does not come near the visual artistry on display. The plot spoofs and overuses the E. T. formula as it centers on a wayward alien named Lu-La and the gang trying to help her "phone home".

As always, the film has wonderful background details with its stop-motion characters caught in a havoc of sight gags and a bit of Brit wit. Everything on view relies on its visuals to tell the story as there is no dialog and the artisans are certainly up to the task to deliver enjoyable family fare for both young and old, even if the story is old and predictable.

Well directed by Richard Phelan and Will Becher, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is a silly entertaining romp. Be charmed by the whimsical antics and spend an evening with the kids, or just have "the kid in you" see this movie. (GRADE: B-)

You know what you are getting with an Aardman film and to be honest I love it. Brilliantly stupid slapstick comedy with a British theme and plenty enough jokes subtly aimed at adults.

The story of this film is aimed at the very young but it doesn't really make any difference to the film it is still funny for all ages.

It's harmless fun and worth a visit for all the family.

Aardman Animations, that alone is almost a guarantee for this picture to be a good animation movie. With this sequel of Shaun The Sheep they deliver again. It's a bit of fun for all ages, I'm fifty-one and I also enjoyed it, it's even better when you had a couple puffs of the magic dragon. I always watch movies with subtitles but with this one you really don't need any as there is not one known word spoken, it's all strange noises, facial expressions, but it works very well. Even with the end credits I laughed when I saw the voice-overs for all the characters because it's basically just animal impersonations that you hear. I can't imagine the amount of time the sculptors and animators worked on this project but it's clearly done by the best.

The movie is surprisingly enjoyable for what it is. It's a simple slapstick comedy, and it works well. There is little to no depth, but it is entertaining.

I was si surprised how well the first Shaun the sheep film came out I had overly realistic expectations about this sequel. However that's not to say its not a beautifully made film.

My only problem with it was that the script was weak. What would have worked extremely well in a half hour episode is stretched very thinly here. However I am a middle aged adult and this film wasn't written with me in mind. The children in the audience seemed to love it and it is very funny in places. But it did seem a little laboured in places although the filmic references and gags were great fun to notice.

Aardmans high water mark will always be the Wallace and Gromit film of 2005. That was simply stunning and deserved all its praise. However this film doesn't come close to that masterpiece. I think the first Shaun film was also better scripted than this but it takes nothing away from the excellent animation and humour on display. Having said that I don't think the under tens are really going to care for my opinion, it's still made with great care and some genuine laugh out loud moments.

Perhaps not quite as memorable as other Aardman films of the past but still a darned sight better than some of the child orientated cgi rubbish that's also on release.