CLEVELAND —
- What: “Missing Link”
- Who: Directed by Chris Butler. Stars the voices of Zach Galifiniakis, Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Emma Thompson, Timothy Olyphant, Matt Lucas and Stephen Fry.
- Rated: PG.
- Running time: 95 minutes.
- When: Opens Friday April 12.
- Where: Area theaters
- Grade: B+.
“Missing Link” is the latest animated movie from Laika the studio started by Nike founder Phil Knight. Previous Laika stop-animation movies include “Coraline” “Boxtrolls” and “Kubo and the Two Strings.”
“Missing Link,” an adventure comedy, is the story of British explorer Lionel Frost, voiced by Hugh Jackman and his search for the creature of the title. At home in London, Frost receives an anonymous letter from the Pacific Northwest in the United States. The letter writer entreats him to travel west to discover a Sasquatch-type beast residing there.
Frost heads to the U.S. and there meets the writer of the letter, the Sasquatch himself voiced by Zach Galifianakis.
The comedy part of this story comes down to the fact that Galifiniakis’ Missing Link, while eight feet tall and furry is in fact a gentle, well-read and articulate soul who current purpose in life is to meet his Yeti “cousins” in the Himalayan mountains. Galifiniakis’ carries the movie with his sense of humour, phrasing and general demeanor as the less-than-ferocious beast.
The idea that Sasquatch is actually no beast at all but a thoughtful, nerdy and kind animal-person is a wonderful teachable moment for this comedy. Things aren’t always what they seem. Lionel Frost, for his part, must examine his all-consuming desire to be accepted by his fellow British explorers. Mr. Link also has to come to terms with his identity in the pantheon of mythical creatures.
Laughs are had, lessons are learned and “Missing Link” proves another funny, touching, family-friendly project for the very talented group of filmmakers at Laika.
Put another swoosh in the win column.