Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
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.