Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Since he first emerged in 1995 with a bit part in Wallace and Grommit film A Close Shave, Shaun The Sheep has gone on to become the franchise's breakout star, with no fewer than five series of his adventures broadcast in 180 countries around the world. His Shaun The Sheep Movie in 2015 was a popular hit and won him his first Oscar nomination. This film has occasioned his second. This is a big success for a small sheep, but in this film, Shaun has his sights set even higher. Never mind international stardom - he's ready to go interplanetary.

A long way now from the simple world of cheese enthusiasts and knitting machines, Shaun - voiced here by Justin Fletcher - has to stretch his animated acting talents to effect surprise when something comes crashing down out of the sky into Mossy Bottom Farm. The other animals are frightened but our practical hero summons up his courage and ventures into the dark shadows of the barn where he finds a small, glowing, very nervous alien. He has no idea how to communicate with her and she doesn't speak Sheep, but somehow they manage to make friends and her introduces her to the others. Her larger problem, however, is more of a challenge. For all his brilliance, Shaun is just a sheep, and she needs to find her way back home.

Essentially an animated take on E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial with farm animals instead of children, Farmageddon never quite captures that film's magic but has plenty to appeal to small viewers. Parents should be aware that there are a few scenes of what is known in the industry as mild peril, so this is a watch-together film where more sensitive children are concerned. There are also moments of sadness when hugs and reassurance are needed, but it's hardly a spoiler to reveal that everything turns out okay in the end.

Along the way, there's comedy and wonder as the alien discovers our world and shows its animal inhabitants the powers she has brought from her own. Humans are largely kept out of the loop but there are some scary ones on our heroine's trail, whilst the farmer, who has spotted a giveaway crop circle, entertains a madcap plan about turning his little rural backwater into a high earning alien-themed amusement park (with predictable consequences). His dog, however, has smelled something suspicious and is determined to find out what Shaun is up to.

Due consideration is given to adult viewers, with lots of referential humour that will go over little ones' heads. The animation is charming but not as inventive as that in Shaun's earlier adventures, and older fans may be a little disappointed that they get only a couple of prolonged slapstick scenes. Ultimately, how much you like the film will depend in large part on how cute you find the alien, and whilst there is a genuinely moving sequence towards the end when we find out how she came to be in this predicament, until then her character is a little too flimsy to invest in very deeply.

The film isn't as strong as its hero's last cinematic outing. it's much more lightweight and won't bear as many repeat viewings (though children may still demand them), but it certainly has its charms.