Missing Link

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Missing Link – 4 out of 5

Laika makes some damn impressive stop-motion animated films.  Ever since Coraline I’ve been in awe of the artistry that they create.  Despite my feelings towards their films, somehow Missing Link sorta managed to sneak past me.  I was peripherally aware of its existence but didn’t really pay much attention to it.  Recently, I sat down with it and found another win for this incredible production company.

Hmm...those are some big feet...

He's not even real and he's already the most credible
Sasquatch hunter to ever exist.

In the late 1880s, Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) has an obsession with the mythical creatures that hide from the world.  After receiving a letter that the Sasquatch is real, he decides to use it as an opportunity to join an elite society of great men.  He strikes a deal with one of the members; Lord Piggot-Dunceby (Stephen Fry), that will allow him membership but Piggot-Dunceby loathes the idea of him joining or confirming the existence of such a creature.  He hires a bounty hunter by the name of Willard Stenk (Timothy Olyphant) to kill him.  Meanwhile, Frost stumbles upon the Sasquatch (Zach Galifianakis) and learns he is intelligent and quite sensitive.  Dubbing him Mr. Link, Frost partners with an old flame; Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana), and together they decide to try and find a new home for their large-footed hairy friend.

This is before he would become more aggressive from people constantly
messing with him.

His catchphrase really should be "Put some Stenk
on it!"

Missing Link feels very different than the other films from Laika…but that’s not a bad thing.  The artistry is still there in force but from a story perspective this film comes off very differently.  Right off the bat, this film doesn’t have a child as the lead in the story and, instead, is focusing on grown adults.  Also, their previous films, with the exception of The Boxtrolls, all have supernatural elements to them.  Sure, Missing Link is dealing with a fictional creature but there was definitely a grounded feel to this that never felt like the others had.  This isn’t a bad thing at all but rather something that made it feel like it was truly its own.  The grounded feel is enhanced with some great comedy and the usual tenderness, heart and warmth that have been synonymous with their other works so it really is a fantastic film from the standpoint of the story.

Their version of the Abbey Road cover is terrible.

Once again, Laika knocks it out of the stratosphere with their stop-motion animation.  I was truly blown away with the amazing amount of detail they are able to include with their creations.  The way they make the characters move isn’t just fluid but the little details they include help bring life to the characters and made it extremely easy to get lost in the world they were presenting to you.  Add in some fun character designs, killer sets and a perfect marriage of the stop-motion with computer effects and you have another astounding bit of creation from this company.

Good People's Eyebrow you got there.

Finally, Missing Link really nails its heart and humor within the story.  While it’s not a tear-jerker like some of their other films there is a wholesome quality to it that was hard to not smile warmly at and the humor follows the same formula.  This bit of charm is achieved thanks to some great writing but also through some fantastic voice acting.  The cast in the film were stupendous and really enhanced this incredible piece.

Mr. Link is a far more competent dresser than I am.

Missing Link is a very fun and amusing movie.  Thanks to its absolutely incredible stop-motion it is also a wonder to watch.  The cast is great, the story is entertaining but, if you take nothing else from it, the animation is Laika doing what they do best and somehow still going beyond those already high expectations.