Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
On Quartile, Missing Link scores 6.5/10 across five categories — strongest on Plot (Above Average), weakest on Novelty (Below Average).
The charismatic Sir Lionel Frost considers himself to be the world's foremost investigator of myths and monsters. Trouble is, none of his small-minded, high-society peers seems to recognize this. Hoping to finally gain acceptance from these fellow adventurers, Sir Lionel travels to the Pacific Northwest to prove the existence of a legendary creature known as the missing link.
Missing Link is a visually stunning Laika production with some of the most technically impressive stop-motion animation ever committed to film — the textures, lighting, and sheer ambition of the craft are genuinely exceptional, earning a well-above-average Cinematography score. The plot is charming but fairly conventional road-trip adventure territory, hitting familiar beats without much surprise. Voice performances are solid and likable without being particularly memorable. The film's novelty is decent — Laika's unique aesthetic always feels distinct — but the story concept (Victorian explorer seeks cryptid) is somewhat derivative of adventure-comedy tropes. The ending is the weakest element, wrapping up too neatly and emotionally without the resonance or payoff the setup promised, feeling rushed and underwhelming given the journey taken.