Missing Link
Starring: Zach Galifianakis, Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Timothy Olyphant, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry
Director: Chris Butler
After failing to provide proof of the existence of the Loch Ness Monster, Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) is once again denied membership in an elite club of gentleman explorers led by Lord Piggot-Dunceby (Stephen Fry). This setback is short lived as he receives a letter asking him to come West in pursuit of the legendary Missing Link (Zach Galifianakis). Upon arrival, he quickly locates his goal and learns that the creature was the one who reached out and needs Sir Frost's help. Mr. Link, as he would begin to be called before setting on the name Susan, has discovered his ancestors live in the snowy region known as Shangra La and wants Frost's help to get him there. Luckily for Susan, Frost's closest friend has a map that should lead them there once they acquire it from his widow, Adelina (Zoe Saldana). She only agrees to give it to them if she can join on the adventure. Their adventure soon becomes more dangerous than they had anticipated as they soon discover that Lord Piggot-Dunceby has dispatched assassin Willard Stenk (Timothy Olyphant) to put an end to the expedition.
Kudos to Laika as they continue to be the top name in the stop motion animation game. The film is visually stunning and it's hard not to marvel at how much effort went into each frame, especially during the opening with Frost tracking Nessie. There is also a cool part of the credits where they time lapse the filming of a scene of the characters on top of an elephant. Anyone who is a film fan should enjoy seeing that. I also avoid seeing films in 3D, so I was disappointed to see that the only showtime that I could make for the film was in 3D, but I left pleasantly surprised. It didn't get in the way of my enjoyment of the film and helped highlight the stop motion animation.
It helps that the studio is also able to land a top notch voice cast. Hugh Jackman is delightful, as is Zack Galifianakis. Susan is a very literal creature and instead of coming off as a Drax replica, Galifianakis is able to sell it as genuine and endearing aspect. Zoe Saldana is great as well, despite putting on a sometimes spotty accent, and Adelina proves to be empowered rather than a damsel in distress.
This film is also never boring, paced like a relentless adventure yarn that should entertain adults as well as youngsters. The film is a lot of fun, especially a thrilling ship chase during a violent storm. Again, the stop motion animation is stunning in this sequence, which adds to the depth and scale of the animation.
While I never expected it to, the film never tops the emotional level of Kubo and the Two Strings. That film set the bar very high for Laika and it's hard to imagine them topping it. Also some of the gags, especially the slapstick ones, geared towards the younger audience fell flat for me.
All things considered, Laika has another winner on their hands.
A