Monsieur Link

Tonight, I finally watched "Missing Link". Part of it is because it just won the Golden Globe award--winning against a bunch of animated sequels. Most of it, however, is that Studio Laika changed distributors and "Missing Link" was difficult to find. For example, my daughter lives in Philly....and no nearby theaters were showing it! This is so bizarre, as the Laika films are works or art...and a lot of fun. And, "Missing Link" is no exception.

The story is a humorous tale about an adventurer who wants to be accepted by the more famous 19th century adventurers (though they were generally jerks). So, he goes off in search of various cryptozoological creatures to impress them. But, after meeting Bigfoot, he learns that one of these jerks just wants to shoot the poor thing...and Bigfoot is really nice! So, the pair run away...searching for Shangri La and the so-called Abominable Snowmen. After all, this discovery will REALLY bring Sir Lionel fame...and Bigfoot really wants some friends...and he assumes these distant cousins will embrace him as one of their own.

I can clearly see why "Missing Link" won this prestigious award. First, and I mention it above, it's wholly original...not some remake or sequel. Second, and more importantly, it's simply gorgeous...and artistic triumph. It also didn't hurt that the film has a lovely sense of humor...and it's a film that will appeal at least as much to adults as kids. Well worth seeing....but so sad that its distribution was so incredibly limited.

Missing Link is plagued by over-simplified caricatures of protagonists and even worse antagonists. The lack of depth reaches into its comedy too, with a joke repertoire that seems to restate itself over and over again. The first act introduced some interesting characters and had some funny moments, but by the end I was fairly disappointed because there was no growth from there. The impressive stop-motion animation was brilliant, and saved this film.

An original and heterogeneous trio goes on an expedition in search of Shangri-La, during the Victorian era: 1) Sir Lionel Frost is a British adventurer who might be considered as the perfect mix of the professor Otto Lidenbrock from Journey to the Center of the Earth (Jules Vernes, 1864) and Indiana Jones (Steven Spielberg, 1981-2008), 2) Adelina Fortnight is a wonderful widow with character and 3) Mr. Link, a caveman as ingenuous as touching, a kind of missing link between us and our ancestors, is desperately looking for a soul mate.

The drawings are remarkably successful and the story is riddled with madcap plot twists. Given the kinship with the exquisite Kubo et l'Armure magique (2016) and the excellent Coraline (2009), I probably hoped for better. Nevertheless, this zany story of adventurers addressing such important topics as friendship, trust or recognition, is overall a success that I really appreciated. I was obviously not the only one to laugh, in the movie theater.

I think this movie is a mixed bag.

The animation is well made.

The big names are there.

On paper the story is funny.

.....but

For me the characters never become likeable, at all.

'Mister Link' himself has his moments, sure, but Hugh's en Zoe's characters feel unpleasant, cold and shallow.

I don't know what causes this for me, but my best bet is a combination of the way they look (their faces just look unpleasant, emotionless) and the bad dialogue (no character depth, no charm).

Even when these characters show their so called soft side it doesn't feel right somehow.

To be honest, I thought Hugh was portraying a bad guy the first part of the movie.

Not bad, but not great.

.....but that's of course my personal opinion ;-)

The first association which came to my mind when I started watching this film was that it reminded me of a similar animated story Smallfoot (2018). They both involve going on adventures and dealing with such humanlike mythical creatures as Yeti. Besides, the atmosphere of both films is quite alike.

General impression of the film is very pleasant, the plot is easy-going and undemanding, although every now and then the viewer comes across unexpected plot twists along with the adventurous spirit of the three main characters - the ambitious investigator Sir Frost, his passionate ex-girlfriend Adelina and the adorable Sasquatch.

To some extent, I found the film a bit predictable with many clichees, but nevertheless it kept my interest till the end. It is worth seeing if you want something chilling and relaxing.