We’ve made it into the summer season, a time when we get all sorts of fan-friendly entertainment. Some of it is blockbusters. Some are horror films. Some are big comedies. And some are family-friendly fare.

The Sheep Detectives, a new mystery, falls into that latter category. It’s a story told mostly through the lens of some upstart sheep. But it’s a lot of fun, full of mystery and laughs that will entertain audiences of all ages.

As we begin, we focus on George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), a shepherd who tends his flock lovingly day-in and day-out in his small field near the small down of Denbrook. He loves his sheep, giving them each a name that befits their personality or gifts. He also reads to them nightly from detective fiction. And while he assumes they just like to hear the sound of his voice, it’s clear his sheep are learning a lot about being detectives from the stories.

After George finishes his stories, his sheep (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Regina Hall, Brett Goldstein, and Chris O’Dowd, among them) discuss the stories and posit their theories. When George turns up dead, it isn’t long before the sheep suspect foul play.

They also suspect that the local police officer (Nicholas Braun) is woefully unprepared to solve the case. With a set of suspects that includes local residents (Hong Chau, Conleth Hill, Tosin Cole) and his estranged American daughter (Molly Gordon), the sheep, the cop, and a cub reporter (Nicholas Galitzine) set out to discover what happened.

This is a fun concept that, in some ways, hardly feels real. It makes sense that it’s the first live-action feature from Kyle Balda, who is the director behind the Minions films. He’s also blessed with a sharp script from Craig Mazin (Chernobyl), based on the book from Leonie Swann. All of it coalesces into something that will be fun for audiences of all ages.

The sheep and the action of the sheep is adorable. There is plenty about their world and antics that will appeal to younger viewers. But a good deal of the plot, and a lot of the humor driven off the characters, is aimed squarely at older viewers. And the lessons we take away about grief, remembering, and finding a sense of belonging are universal truths that should appeal to everyone.

This is a silly concept, at times, but the film never resorts to silliness. It takes the story and its subjects seriously and treats them with great care. That results in some great performances, both from those on camera and those providing voice work, that builds out this world and keeps you hooked on the action. I could quibble that it runs a little long, clocking in at around an hour and 50 minutes, but it remains fun and emotionally engaging throughout. That run time might make it a challenge for younger viewers, but it’s got enough of a hook that it remains joyful throughout.

I was especially taken with Gordon and Braun, who bring a fun energy to their roles. The lead sheep, voiced by Louis-Dreyfuss, O’Dowd, and Cranston are great, too. This is a blast at the theater that’s worth seeking out, especially for a Mother’s Day Weekend outing.

The Sheep Detectives opens nationwide on Friday, May 8.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.