Missing Link: Review by @Kush_Hayes
Smart move on Annapurna Pictures for charging Laika Studios to make them a 95 min stop motion adventure buddy comedy between an unlikely odd couple of Pompous Nobelman who wants to be accepted by his peers and the Last Sasquatch in 19th Century Washington State looking to not be alone any more. Its a fantastic combination that is fun for the whole family and isnt going to make you fall asleep or your children less intelligent.
Like all animated films these days its got a celebrity cast featuring Zoe Saldana and Timothy Olyphant, both of whom youre happy to hear. But its the chemistry between Hugh Jackman and Zach Galifianakis mixed with the ever expanding and evolving technology in Laika Studios that carries this movie all the way and feels so immersive that you have to remind yourself that this is still an animated movie. Its attention to the smallest details that made the biggest impact with me. Example, theres an act that takes place on ship crossing the Atlantic, and the ocean looks amazing, then with the rocking of the ship, small pieces of furniture are sliding about on the decks and in the cabins, affecting our characters conversation. Its so impressive that one nitpick I have is that unlike Kubo and the Two Strings, we only got one real BTS sequence in the films credits. Im just saying Id like to see more about the process of making this film. Perhaps a good reason to pick it up on home media.
Missing Link marks Writer/Director Chris Butler second project for Laika, and makes me wonder if I somehow got Para Norman confused with Franken Weenie when it came out. Regardless, it makes me want to find a copy of Franken Weenie. Chris Butlers story in Missing Link is full of fantastic locations, and most importantly characters that you feel are real. Characters he somehow gets to emote to a degree where you feel like our heroes may be in danger. Speaking of danger, this movie does not pull any punches on consequences for negative actions. Be it with our heroes or their antagonists, there is a price that is paid for negative selection. And when our heroes are in a bind, where they are seconds away from doom, they manage to find a way to get out of the situation by being clever and using their wits.
If I have to discuss any negatives, I think its ten minutes too long, and could do without relying on head trauma to sell a joke past the rule of three which they exceed at least by double. It really is only those reasons Im not giving this movie a higher rating.
In the vein of Abbott and Costello, Farley and Spade, and even Tom and Jerry, I would look forward to seeing more from the team of [Sir Lionel] Frost and [Susan] Link.
Four out of Six Blueberries
Rated PG for action/peril and some mild rude humor
This review was originally published April 11th 2019 on Kush And Kai
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