Missing Link

Are you Yeti for more Yeti movies? Well, Yeti or Not, here they come. Two, in fact.

One by Dreamworks, Abominable, debuts this fall. You'll likely see its trailer with the other, Missing Link, right now. Missing Link is another Laika spooktacular. See it before Avengers: Endgame is afoot.

Here's why:

Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) travels the world investigating myths and legends. After his attempt to document the Loch Ness Monster goes awry, Frost finds a letter that seemingly validates the Sasquatch. He goes to Washington State and finds the letter was written by the creature himself. "Mr. Link" (Zach Galifianakis) is tired of living alone and asks Frost to help him find his cousins, the Yetis, of Shangri-La. Frost wanted to find Mr. Link to get into a snooty Gentlemen's Club. But he helps Link go to Shangri-La.

It's not an easy trip. The guys first steal a map belonging to a late pal of Frost's. Said pal's wife, Adelina (Zoe Saldana), joins them. The snooty Lord Piggot-Dunceby (Stephen Fry) doesn't want Frost to embarrass high society with his quests. So he sends an assassin, Willard Stenk (Timothy Olyphant), after Frost and Co. There's also the chilly reception our heroes get at Shangri-La.

Chris Butler directed, wrote and designed the characters for this tale. Frost's first scene sets him up as an insensitive jerk. His valet, Mr. Lint (David Walliams), understandably quits after he almost becomes Nessie food. But Frost isn't as unlikable as the snooty hypocrites of the Gentlemen's Club. His interactions with Mr. Link and Adelina show him as a Jerk with a Heart of Gold.

Meanwhile, Mr. Link's literal mindedness is a lot of fun. But we understand his loneliness and sadness. His interactions with Frost and Adelina help him find meaning. Adelina's desire for adventure is understandable. Her resolution with Frost is fulfilling and atypical. Overall, the leads have believable character development.  Their story is told over a slow and steady 95 minutes.

Amongst the supporting cast, the best has to be Shangri-La's Yeti Elder (Emma Thompson), who might have said the greatest oxymoron in film history: "The people we don't want here are trying to leave! Force them to stay!"

Missing Link's monsters and humans have equally exaggerated and appealing designs. The film's production design is brighter than the creepy look of Laika's other films. The CGI additions to the practical sets are perfectly blended. But the visual star of the film is cinematographer Chris Peterson. He gives the film astounding views of the scenery. It's his tracking shots that make the action scenes into incredible set pieces.

Missing Link is another marvelous work of stop-motion. Its slow and steady plot might make it feel longer than it is. But its set pieces are unforgettable. If you want to see it on the big screen, see it now. The Endgame is coming and it's coming quick.