With a studio like Laika, it's difficult to know where to set expectations. Sure, none of their movies are bad, but there is a stark difference between “Coraline” and “The Boxtrolls.” So, anyone going into “Missing Link” wondering what to expect would be forgiven if they didn’t have the highest expectations, despite the studio’s illustrious history.
It’s a simplistic story, wherein an explorer agrees to help an undiscovered sasquatch find his cousins in exchange for allowing him to prove to the world that sasquatch are real. Thankfully, the cast is really what sells it, with each bringing their personalities to the role.
Hugh Jackman (“The Greatest Showman,” “Logan”) provides voicework here that rivals his other excellent vocal performances from films like “Happy Feet,” “Flushed Away,” and “Rise of the Guardians.” While his Australian accent, unfortunately, isn’t out to play this time, he delivers every line with wit and grace, creating a wonderful portrait of a bumbling yet posh explorer in Lionel Frost.
Zoe Saldana (“Star Trek (2009),” “Guardians of the Galaxy”) is also good as Lionel’s former flame Adelina Fortnight and while she’s mostly relegated to being Lionel’s voice of reason, she’s nonetheless engaging and amusing.
The real star of the show though is Zach Galifianakis (“The Hangover,” “Baskets”) as the Sasquatch himself, Susan Link. It’s remarkable how much emotion he’s able to work into his lines while also maintaining an easy-going, comedic attitude. Sure, most of his lines play on the “I’m new to this world so I take everything very literally” trope, but it strengthens the character due to his commitment and energy, rather than feeling like a cliché.
Just as was the case in Laika’s previous work, this is a gorgeous film to behold. The fluidity of their animation continues to border on CGI, and the color palette is simply astonishing. It’s a wonderous film with a great sense of scope as well, thanks to cinematographer Chris Peterson. Utilizing multiple bent angles and wide-angle shots, scenes of mountain climbing and travelling large vistas feel just as expansive as they would in real life.
Everything pops with vibrant colors and expansive sets thanks to some truly impressive production design from Nelson Lowry (“Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Kubo and the Two Strings”) and Lou Romano (“Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Up”). Even seemingly drab sets like a marble country club or an American mining town are given visual life thanks to complete commitments to their distinctive color schemes. It’s a wonder to behold and should be viewed on the biggest screen possible.
However, be forewarned, do not go see this film expecting action or intrigue. This is a simplistic story that has been done before and done better as well. That’s not to say it's awful by any means, it's just somewhat bland. It’s predictable as hell, and the antagonists have little to no depth to their characters, simply appearing and disappearing when needed.
This is a film carried by the strengths of its dialogue and visual humor. While things aren’t always jam-packed with jokes, this is a frequently visually funny film. It excels when slapstick comes into the fray and the chemistry between Galifianakis and Jackman is top tier. This is a film meant to be watched for characters and not for the plot. It’s slow and meandering, but not in a boring way. Rather, it’s an easy-going film, letting you just sit back and spend time with these characters.
This results in a movie that, while not anything jaw-dropping, is worth a trip to the movies. Its artwork and incredible animation are reason enough to see it on the big screen, but its cast and their interactions really do make the most of an otherwise uninspired plot. It’s not terribly exciting or of an otherworldly level of quality, but it is quaint, charming and pleasant. 3.5/5
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