Missing Link (2019 Film) strongly reminded me of the Little Britain skids. It probably would have been perfect if presented that way.
Missing Link (2019 Film) Synopsis
Sir Lionel Frost, self-styled investigator of mythical beings, is scorned and snubbed by his compatriots as a joke. To gain acceptance into a society of “great men,” Frost proposes a deal to his arch-rival Piggot-Dunceby: he would prove the existence of the legendary Sasquatch, failing which he would give up trying for admittance. This, Frost soon manages to do so without difficulty; turns out that the Sasquatch is both English-speaking and well-mannered. Eventually, Frost even agrees to help “Link” i.e. the Sasquatch find his supposed relatives the Yetis in the Himalayas. On the other hand, Piggot-Dunceby is livid after receiving news of Frost’s discovery. Viewing everything as an affront to (European) civilisation, the lord adopts extreme measures to deal with Frost and his new friend.
Snappy Review
If you’re unfamiliar, Missing Link (2019 Film) was produced by Laika, the same stop-motion animation studio that gave us the delightful Kubo and the Two Strings in 2016. Add to that the voice talents of Hugh Jackman and Zach Galifianakis, and Little Britain icons David Walliams and Matt Lucas, and it’s almost assured that the story would be a bucket of hilarious surprises every other minute. No matter how trite the plot actually sounds.
In that sense, the movie does deliver. Within the first half hour, you also realise this is not just another family-friendly animated feature. The story is unapologetically disdainful of classic white-man saviour mentality and the senseless destruction always involved.
Unfortunately, the constant reuse of surprises arising from stereotypes soon wears thin, and while that doesn’t compromise the underlying message of the meaningless craving to belong, the humour rapidly flats out towards the end.
With reference to my opening statement above, this might have been more effective if presented as a series of vignettes. (In other words, what Little Britain does) Stretched into a full movie, well … It was a little like a classroom lesson that went on beyond the bell. To be honest, the final moments were pretty dull.
Read my other Snappy Movie Reviews.
 review. Gorgeous stop-motion animation with a brutal take on European colonialism. But the humour tires quickly.){kind=link}