Missing Link

Missing Link, written and directed by Chris Butler is a heartfelt and funny film. It is a story about adventure and friendship. It tells the story of monster hunter Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) who is in search of a mysterious creature - the Missing Link. He wants to join an exclusive club and needs this discovery to become a part of it. Soon he goes searching and spots the Missing Link in the woods. Link, who goes by Susan, is played by the hilarious Zack Galifainakis. The two set out on a journey to find Link's home, a land of yetis, so he can finally be part of a family. They are joined by Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana). She is a spunky and fearless woman who helps them on the way. On their way, they encounter villains who are determined to stop Sir Lionel from proving Link's existence. The movie has outstanding animation and a unique storyline. Because it's a LAIKA studio film, the characters are made out of clay and there are a lot of incredible details that add to the movie. Fans of LAIKA films will enjoy the artistic style of the film. My favorite character is Link (aka Susan) who is funny and lovable. The movie takes the audience on a journey as Link tries to find out who he is and where he belongs. I also enjoyed the character Adelina because she is the motherly figure of the group. Together, Sir Lionel, Link and Adelina are a perfect team. My favorite part of the movie is when the three characters set out on an adventure to find Link's family. It is the first time they work together and they are hopeful. The film is a story about belonging and friendship. Sir Lionel and Link form a strong bond. They remind me of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. The movie is full of humor and surprises. I rate this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 18, as well as adults. It's fun for the whole family. Reviewed by Jordan M., KIDS FIRS! Film Critic. For more reviews by youth, visit kidsfirst dot org.

Laika's latest outing, for better or worse, carries with it a certain expectation of quality, thanks to their previously pretty much entirely untarnished record. Of course, 'Missing Link (2019)' really shouldn't be judged solely against its ancestors, as that's simply not fair (even if it's, essentially, inevitable and, even, somewhat understandable). It initially seems like a bit of a departure for the studio, perhaps spurred on by their new Annapurna Pictures partnership. However, you soon come to realise that it takes a similar approach when it comes to its story-telling: family-friendly but fairly uncompromising. There's a good amount of action here and it all feels suitably tangible. As usual, it comes with consequences, too. These stakes help drive the adventure, which is always quite propulsive and pacy. It also takes some unexpected - or, maybe, risky - turns and has a decent thematic underpinning. In general, though, it seems to lack a sense of urgency - even though, by all rights, it shouldn't - and the characters are a tad flat. Around halfway through, the lead seems to regress into a slightly more selfish state so that the flick can manufacture some conflict. It feels as though the writers realised that the hero needed to undergo the arc that he ultimately does but didn't go back through the piece to refine what they'd already written. It doesn't help that the arc itself is quite basic and, almost, expected. It's also strange that the protagonist only changes whenever he's told to by the female lead. The film is probably trying to imply that he's undergone some internal reflection after their confrontation(s) but, instead, it seems more like he's doing his subsequent good deeds simply to 'get the girl' and further his own agenda. It's perhaps a small thing but it's something that I noticed. On the whole, though, these small character issues don't detract from an undeniably beautiful picture. Laika continue to hone their stop-motion craft with each movie they produce. The facial animation, especially, looks superb. On top of that, it's consistently entertaining. While it isn't as emotionally engaging as it could have been, it's a solid story that will keep you watching until the end. 7/10

The visuals and humor in this movie are spot on. But parents should know that there is some typical cartoon violence and that the storyline might be a little too meaty for younger viewers who might get easily bored. We suggest 7/8yrs. old and up. Don't fear going and watching this with your kids- we think you'll laugh and enjoy it!

With a story that is one part Lost Horizon (and other lost world adventures), one part Around the World in 80 Days, and one part buddy comedy this is a winsome , hilarious story that adults and young children (Age 6+) should both enjoy. The film mixes and matches wit, physical comedy, injokes and puns with evident glee that keeps the tone light and the story moving. Mr. Link and Sir Frost are wonderful duo that has all the hallmarks of the classic comedy pairing. Jackman gives wonderfully dry vocal performance that makes Frost a great rogue. The animation is quite breath taking. There are couple scenes involving water that are quite striking technically but there is a long sequence in a horse drawn carriage that is the real standout for the animation. It must have taken months to get the timing of that scene right. The character design and the overall look of the film is rather twee and visual scope of the film is the largest one I have seen in a stop motion animation. The film really does fit comfortably into the 30's style adventure films. The film's message is a continuation of the accepting differences, being true to yourself theme that is present in ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls. Here is much more about *class* than innate difference however. This film is better realized than the Boxtrolls but not quite the brilliance of ParaNorman. I *think* children 5 and below might find the film to slow paced; it is a leisurely film. A lot of the humor is verbal.

The first thing that has to be said when talking about 'Missing Link' is that it looks absolutely incredible. With each film, Laika's stop motion animation has improved and this is no exception. While the world might not be as visually interesting as some of their previous creations, what's there looks phenomenal and the characters are animated even better. The movements and facial expressions are so fluid, to the point where it genuinely looks computer generated. The care and craft it must have taken to create this is extraordinary. Where Laika's latest is not up to par, however, is in its narrative and characters. The characters themselves are fun and have entertaining interactions, but nobody really has any arcs or development, and they're all pretty much bottled down to having one trait. Sure, Lionel Frost changes by the end of the narrative, but it feels completely forced, unrealistic and unearned, which is something that can't be said about any of the protagonists in Laika's previous works. The actual story itself is very simple and quite generic, but luckily the globe-trotting adventure includes several locations and scenarios for the characters to be in, which are all entertaining. The relationship between Frost and Mr. Link leads to some entertaining interactions, and the situations they find themselves in are all fairly humorous, too. So, while it's not all that original and there aren't really any arcs, it is entertaining throughout. Surprisingly, the action sequences are well done and actually quite thrilling, while still retaining the fun 'adventure feel'. It's also, like the rest of Laika's works, not afraid of pulling its punches and is more mature than the average animated feature. Overall, it's arguably the worst film that Laika has produced thus far, but it is still very entertaining and has great animation. 7/10

Missing Link is a heartwarming and funny film with incredible visuals and great voice acting from Zach Galifianakis, Hugh Jackman and Zoe Saldana. It's got a nice pace and some impressive set pieces and good messages. Only negative is that a few of the jokes aren't funny.