145. Sheep and Wolves (Volki i ovtsy. Beezumnoe prevrashchenie); movie review

SHEEP AND WOLVES (VOLKI I OVTSY. BEEZUMNOE PREVRASHCHENIE)
Cert TBA
85 mins
BBFC advice TBA

Movies to go under the radar proudly present.... a spiky animation which is being released after the Easter rush but is every bit as good as those which have gone before it.
Ok, the moral message of Sheep And Wolves is laid on very thick but its zestful story will appeal to young children.
And it is a rarity because it is a Russian movie which has been dubbed into English.
It stars Tom Felton, who has been the villain of movies since first starring as Drako Malfoy as a boy, becoming a hero this time by providing the voice for an amiable wolf called Grey.
The wolf is part of a pack which lives on one side of a valley with a flock of sheep happily going about their business on the other side.
Of course, being a fantasy, the animals not only talk but also have their own personalities and homes.
Despite being easygoing, Grey aspires to be the leader of the pack upon the retirement of its head (Jim Cummings).
However, he has a fierce rival in the vicious Ragear (Rich Orlow) who prompts echoes, in more ways than one, of The Lion King's Scar.
Anyway, Grey is lining up a fight with Ragear for the wolf crown before he meets a fortune-teller whose potion turns him into a ram.
Yep, this really is a wolf in sheep's clothing and Grey then becomes immersed into the flock.
Messages about friendship and getting along together despite differences are written large during Andrey Galat and Maxim Volkov's movie and there are a couple of romantic strands too.
But while it is quite preachy it is also plenty of fun with some very jolly moments among the flock, thanks to some hearty imagination from its writers.
As said, it is a pity it has gone under under the radar because there is plenty here for youngsters to enjoy and the translation from Russian to English is seamless.

Reasons to watch: An effective moral message for the youngsters
Reasons to avoid: Not the sharpest animation

Laughs: One
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7/10

The big question - Could wolves and sheep ever be friends?

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