In director David Fincher's flashy 1930s-set Hollywood period drama Mank, famed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio founder and boss Louis B. Mayer proudly declares that, despite all of its stars in its lineup, the studio only had one true star: Leo the Lion. For over a century, the lion has been the studio's mascot, his signature look and roar being the first sight and sound for each film. For Mayer and many cinephiles, Leo was a reassuring stamp of quality upon the brand.

Along with the fact that his famed studio is now owned by the corporate overlord that is Amazon, Mr. Mayer might have rolled over in his grave at the sight of the king of the jungle's roar being replaced with a cartoonish sheep's baa for the opening of The Sheep Detectives. His loss is our gain, as that visual and audio dichotomy elicited smiles and chuckles throughout the audience, a mood that was pleasantly maintained for the entire runtime.

Despite popular belief perpetuating the stereotype that they are dumb, sheep are actually just as mentally and emotionally intelligent as most farm animals. They can solve simple puzzles, pick up on emotions, and remember a person's face. One thing they haven't been proven to be capable of doing is solving murder cases, which is exactly what George Hardy's (Hugh Jackman) flock must do when their beloved shepherd suspiciously meets his demise.

Who could have committed the crime? Several citizens of this seemingly quaint English village had the means, motive, and opportunity to do the unspeakable deed. The list includes Ham (Conleth Hill), the local butcher who always lambasted George's strict vegetarian diet and refusal to sell his sheep for meat; Caleb (Tosin Cole), a rival shepherd; innkeeper Beth Pennock (Hong Chau), George's jealous secret admirer; and Reverend Hillcoate (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith), whom George viewed as a bad shepherd to the village's flock of religious congregators. Also mysteriously introduced are Elliot Matthews (Nicholas Galitzine), a junior reporter who happens to stumble upon this story, and Rebecca Hampstead (Molly Gordon), George's estranged daughter, who finally reconnected with him on the day of his death.

Unfortunately, the town's sole police officer (Nicholas Braun) is a bumbling fool, which means the responsibility of catching the killer and restoring justice falls upon the hooves of the sheep. It's a task they coincidentally have been trained for their whole lives, as George's nightly ritual was to read his flock a bedtime story from the endless line of murder mystery novels. Unbeknownst to him (and everyone), they understood every word and developed the skills to solve the case.

Taking some inspiration from modern whodunnits like the Knives Out films, and the English whimsy of Paddington, screenwriter Craig Mazin (returning to feature comedies after spearheading prestige HBO dramas like Chernobyl and The Last of Us) spins a yarn that is both simple enough to keep straight, yet complex enough so that it doesn't immediately reveal itself. Rated PG, this is entertainment for the whole family that respects the intelligence of each member. Kids will be entertained by the talking animals and slapstick humor, while parents will be surprised by how invested they are in the plot and emotions.

For as much as things are often (and successfully) played for laughs, there are more than a few moments tinged with melancholy and fear. George’s untimely death is met with sadness, and a scene where the sheep discover dark secrets about Caleb’s pasture is particularly scary, with the reality about the purpose of a farm animal’s life starkly observed. The combination of all these emotions makes each one feel earned, rather than just a pile of desserts.

Although humans can’t understand them, the sheep all talk to each other, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for celebrity voice roles. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris O’Dowd, and Bryan Cranston voice the main trio quite well, the latter being particularly strong as the black sheep of the flock. There’s also Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, Rhys Darby, and Brett Goldstein. Their voices are aided by the top-notch special effects that provide a healthy mixture of realism and expression.

In the realm of talking animal movies, I’d seriously consider putting The Sheep Detectives at least near the top alongside Babe. It’s not every day that you can find a film that can be funny without being juvenile, heartwarming without being cloying, and intelligent without being overly complicated. It’s a perfect day at the farm, luckily without the usual smells.

Amazon MGM Studios will release The Sheep Detectives in theaters nationwide on May 08th.