MISSING LINK / CERT: PG / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: CHRIS BUTLER / STARRING: HUGH JACKMAN, DAVID WALLIAMS, STEPHEN FRY / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Laika, the animation geniuses behind films like Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings and Paranorman, return with Missing Link.
Adventurer and monster discoverer Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) is vilified and ostracised from the Adventurers Society. He sees his chance to prove them all wrong when he’s summoned to America to find the legendary Sasquatch (Zach Galifianakis). Finding him, he’s shocked to discover a well-spoken and friendly creature, renamed Mr Link, who only wants to rediscover his relatives, the Yeti, hidden in Shangri-la. But they’re followed by the evil Lord Piggot-Dunceby (Stephen Fry) and Willard Stenk (Timothy Olyphant) who want to stop them.
It should be no surprise to anyone who’s seen a Laika film before that Missing Link is a wonder of puppetry and stop-motion animation. They breathe life and character into extraordinary puppets, creating worlds and scenes that thrum with a pulse right down to the finest detail. With CGI so prevalent, you’ll forget that what you’re watching has been painstakingly moved by hand with such fluidity and skill.
But, of course, it’s not all about craft. Laika have created a wonderful film full of humour, heart and entertainment. It’s a story about people and mythical creatures trying to find their way in the world. Both Frost and Link want to be accepted in the world, whether it’s with recognition from their peers or reaching their lost family, but it’s through adventure and experience they learn that perhaps that’s not what life is about – friendships that blossom along the way grow to be the strongest pull. Missing Link may not have the high gag rate of something like The Lego Movie or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, but it’s consistently entertaining and funny and doesn’t let momentum sag.
When you’ve seen Missing Link and wondered how they put it all together, head to the extras for an in-depth look. A series of short features cover their process, including the creation of the puppets and the blending of hand-moved puppetry and physical sets with CGI layers. It’s incredible to see the detail and skill that goes into every scene, shot and movement, showing why it takes the studio three to four years to shoot a movie. And it’s all worth it.
Missing Link is another entry to Laika’s incredible filmography, meticulously and lovingly crafted by filmmakers at the top of their game. It was unfairly overlooked at the cinemas; don’t let the same thing happen with its home release.
