LOUISA: 
LOUISA SAYS:
Whereas the previous Shaun films have had something for everyone no matter their age, “Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon” is solely for the little ones. The film is too basic on all levels, elementary to the point it feels more like a vintage “Teletubbies” episode that’s meant to entertain preschoolers. The film is missing several tiers of the sophistication that most audiences have come to expect from Aardman Animation. It’s charming and well-animated, but unlikely to engage anyone over the age of 7.
It’s another ordinary day at Mossy Bottom for Shaun until an unusual alien creature crash-lands in her UFO. The friendly extraterrestrial makes her way to the farm and finds a new friend in Shaun, who helps teach her the ways of the Earth world. They go on a fun series of misadventures of the mundane (like a wacky trip to the town supermarket), and everything seems rosy. But when a shady corporation vies to capture the alien to harvest her special powers, Shaun and his barnyard pals must help his new friend return to her home planet before it’s too late.
It’s a simple story that’s predictable, and the quality animation is one of the few engaging aspects of the mostly silent film. The alien character is an unappealing hybrid of an octopus and a puppy, which makes her off-putting from the get-go. Despite a few inspired bits, this is one of the rare misses from Aardman Animation.
Screen Zealots 