Brief thoughts on Missing Link.

Laika have quickly established themselves as the Pixar of stop-motion, branching out into stories of wildly different styles and genre with each film, but all held together by their unmistakable stamp of quality. They've excelled well in creating great family films, but even so, they've usually skewed towards a dark nature, often with a macabre vibe to them. Even the comparatively light Boxtrolls had an off-kilter sense of humor. Which is why it's surprising, pleasantly in fact, coming off the heels of Kubo and the Two Strings, for the studio to deliver a more mainstream appealing family film in Missing Link, becoming another thorough delight from the studio.

There's a number of ways in which Missing Link is the most broadly appealing film Laika has made, but most substantial is the reliance on humor, well-natured, easygoing humor. The movie finds most of that humor in the central dual-journey of its lead characters.

Starting things off is Sir Lionel Frost, a self-absorbed investigator of myths and legends voiced by Hugh Jackman, coming off a failed excursion to prove the existence of the Loch Ness Monster, and therefore earn himself membership into an elite society of great adventurers. Jackman does splendidly at playing Frost in such a larger than life fashion, carrying himself with an elegant, if foppish demeanor of superiority. It's not unfamiliar territory to Jackman (I swear, there's a direct reference to The Greatest Showman), but he owns the role and gives it such a charming sense of humor, and he's clearly enjoying himself doing so.

In order to enter the ranks of great men, he sets his sights on proving the existence of Sasquatch, which he finds in the form of Mr. Link, voiced by Zach Galifianakis. Despite being their first film since Corpse Bride not to feature a child as the lead, Mr. Link (he prefers Susan) is the purest embodiment of the film he's in, a warm, awe-inspiring, tickling gentle giant hiding a lot of thought in his head. He's a figure of pure childlike innocence, a lost soul longing for purpose and belonging, jump starting the grand journey of the two lead characters. As a result, Galifianakis dominates the film anytime he appears, blessing each scene with a remarkable warmth anytime he speaks, and really sells the earnest sincerity of their budding friendship.

And with that friendship comes the film's endearing sense of humor. Missing Link is a very funny movie indeed, blessed with a number of effective gags and comic sequences, from smartly delivered wordplay to some inspired visual gags, including an extended break-in where Frost and Link attempt to steal a map from an old flame of Frost's, Adalina voiced by the fiery Zoe Saldana. This does mean that the story is somewhat weaker than some previous Laika entries, but in doing so, there's such a nonchalant, almost meditative charm to the film, and such an easily digestible adventure. Not every gag is a winner, but a majority of them land firmly planting a smile on my face.

But to be fair, there is substance to the story. Even if less emphasized than in the likes of Kubo or ParaNorman, director Chris Butler of the latter finds real sweetness in that central bond, with the ideas and notions of family being beyond blood and similarities, of family being what you make of it, and the love that you find in it.

But the script can also be repetitious. Chief in this are the villains voiced by Stephen Fry and Timothy Olyphant. Both are hilarious in their respective roles, Fry being a snobbish and whiny aristocrat determined to sink Frost, and Olyphant as a ruthless cowboy infamous for hunting mythical creatures, but the two feel overexposed. The film falls into a rhythm of quick lulls, followed by brief altercations with the villains for what feels like a half-dozen times, and it feels like the film keeps cutting back to them simply to jump start the movie's adrenaline.

But all should be pleased by the usual majesty of Laika's hand-crafted creations, with Missing Link featuring some of their most beautiful, jaw-dropping creations to date. The character designs are inherently distinct and expressive, with the film reveling in those silent moments to let its body language take effect. But even more impressive is the sheer spectacle of the constructed sets and environmental effects, as characters scale snowy mountains, fight for their balance aboard a ship sailing in the pouring rain, or riding atop an elephant through the jungles of India. The same obsessive attention to detail that has become a hallmark of Laika's work continues to cast its spell, and purely as eye candy this film merits your attention.

It can't (and realistically couldn't) compete with the likes of Kubo and ParaNorman as far as story goes, but it's certainly a better exercise in comedy than the aggressively mediocre Boxtrolls. If not becoming an instant classic in animation, it's nevertheless another charmer from Laika, who in their quest to broaden their horizons with each new film, are setting themselves up to be one of the most interesting animation studios out there.


**** / *****