An unexpected new film wins the prize for outstanding farm to fable fiction with a tender tale of belonging and destiny, a corker of a mystery and overall impeccable filmmaking craft, wrapped in an enchanting package. Set in a bucolic English village, Kyle Balda’s exceedingly clever The Sheep Detectives (A-) features wonderfully rendered talking animals inspired by mystery novels read to them by their shepherd (Hugh Jackman) to solve a murder in their own barnyard. During the course of this “hoof done it,” the flock learns valuable lessons about the complexity of both the human and animal worlds. Balda treats all members of his film’s family audience with dignity and respect as he tells his buoyant story, choosing observational humor and sharp writing filled with insights at every stage of the journey. The film features a wooly-loaded voice cast, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston as standouts in their field, exploring and explaining why the world works the way it does. The humans in the movie are literally a murderers row of talent as well, with Emma Thompson, Hong Chou and Nicholas Galitzine among the fetching ensemble; if anything, it would have been great to know any of them as well as viewers get to know the sheep.  The movie’s craft work across the board is impeccable, from effects to production design to music. It’s more than just Babe meets Knives Out, with nods to both landmark films; Balda’s work in this movie is a triumph of tone with something topical to say while being quite entertaining.