Film Review: "Missing Link" (2019).

"Things Are About To Get Hairy" in Missing Link. This stop-motion animated adventure film written and directed by Chris Butler and produced by Laika. The charismatic Sir Lionel Frost considers himself to be the world's foremost investigator of myths and monsters. The trouble is none of his small-minded high-society peers seems to recognize this. Sir Lionel's last chance for acceptance by the adventuring elite rests on traveling to America's Pacific Northwest to prove the existence of a legendary creature. A living remnant of Man's primitive ancestry. The Missing Link.

In late April 2018, it was announced that Laika had begun development on "Film Five," a new animated film written and directed by Butler and starring Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, and Zach Galifianakis. The film was set to be produced in association with Annapurna Pictures, as Annapurna's first animated film for their "family and animation" division. In early May, it was announced that the film had been titled Missing Link and that additional voice talents would include Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Timothy Olyphant, Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Ching Valdez-Aran, and Amrita Acharia. At the same time, production was reportedly underway with Laika's artists having constructed over 110 sets with 65 unique locations for the film. The film was shot in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the third Laika film to do so after ParaNorman (2012) and Kubo and the Two Strings (2016).

The film features the voice talents of Jackman, Saldana, Thompson, Fry, Walliams, Olyphant, Lucas, Valdez-Aran, Acharia, and Galifianakis. The cast gave terrific performances. Galifianakis delivered tender performance as the innocent, gentle title character. Jackman delivered a suave performance as self-involved myths and monsters investigator. Saldana gave a feisty performance as fierce yet free-spirited and conscientious adventurer and former girlfriend of Frost. Finally, Fry made another terrific villain as the prideful, snobbish head of a society of "great men", and Sir Lionel's rival.

Beautifully animated and solidly scripted, Missing Link will entertain children while providing surprisingly thoughtful fare for their parents. Few movies so taken with evolution have felt so rudely alive as this one, the latest handcrafted marvel from the stop-motion artists at Laika. It's an engaging entertainment, with a solidly constructed storyline. The film has a unique look that's equal parts old school and cutting edge. The puppetry is impressive - the human character and title character are a feast for the eyes - and the stop-motion is fluid. The thrilling finale is a terrific blend of heartfelt emotion, spectacular visuals and inventive spectacle. It often feels as if it caters more to kids than adults, but I think the entire family can enjoy this one as long as adults enjoy man's primitive ancestor in a suit goofing around for the entire show. It has its entertaining moments, but this stop-motion animated comedy-adventure cries out for more activity. Regardless of its flaws, the film is a sweet, funny take on horror films that turns many of the tropes of the genre on its head. It's very, very nice to see a stop motion film. It's just plain fun.

Simon says Missing Link receives:

Also, see my reviews for ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings.