Missing Link (2019)

Tired of living alone, Mr Link recruits the fearless explorer Lionel Frost to take him to find his long lost relatives in Shangri-La. On their journey around the world they learn about what truly makes a family. 

Rating: 5.5/10
Genre: Animation
Related Titles: ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings, Brave, Coraline
By Leanne Harragan

Animation over the Easter holidays have been pretty weak in my opinion, with both Missing Link and Wonder Park lacking the ability to make an impact. Missing Link is the marginally better of the two but that's a real marginal line, literally only because less of it felt like filler than Wonder Park, I still found myself clock watching towards the end. 

The animation in this film is good, nowadays it's almost impossible for animation not to be solid. It's well designed and the attention to detail on each scene design is what makes it stand out for me. It's full of exciting adventures and children viewers will find themselves quickly entrapped in the exciting, unbelievable adventures that take place. For the adult viewers, it's a little ridiculous and lacks the laughs to really be an enjoyable piece of media. 

Some interesting views were passed along through this film, being set in the past there were some different ideas about how new thinkers will destroy the earth and being set in the past is a better way of living. There was also some interesting ideas about how mankind see the earth, they speak of beauty but see everything as a prize and are always looking for a way to capture and destroy this beauty. 

Honestly, this film is fine. It's got a good voice cast with stars like Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Thompson making top bill, but it really lacks the oomph to make it something special. Easily forgettable and not something that I'll be revisiting in the foreseeable future. 

Rating: 6.5/10
By Rebecca Mannick 

Despite being an alright movie, Missing Link did fall short on some occasions ultimately ending up being an average stop motion animated adventure movie. Unfortunately I will always be comparing it to 'Smallfoot' which again is an animation movie based on the Yeti - it becomes difficult to judge Missing Link without making a direct comparison. 

The story goes, Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman), a self absorbed mystical creator investigator gets a letter from somebody in Washington State, USA who claims to prove the existence of the Sasquatch. Lionel willingly goes along as he wants to prove himself to 'great men' society who do not believe in the Sasquatch. Lionel goes to Washington and is met by a Sasquatch who is quickly named 'Mr Link'. Lionel and Mr Link then go on a quest to find Mr Link/ (other name) Susan his cousins in the Yeti. They travel and meet various people along the way - their end point is the Shangri- La in the Himalayas. 

One thing that does go well is the voice acting. There is a pretty solid cast headed up by Hugh Jackman and Zack Galifianakis and they bounce off each other very well. Lionel and Susan/ Mr Link quickly become the right pair together. They're adventures bring them closer together. There are also a few other voice actors in which you would recognise, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Also a mention to Emma Thompson who plays the Elder Yeti, some of the funniest lines come from her character and she delivers well.

I feel like the animation category is becoming super saturated and its becoming more and more hard to be set apart from the rest. While it wasn't the best film it also wasn't the worst. I can definitely appreciate the time and precision it takes to create the picture.