Le chaînon manquant

There is something charming about Picha's, 'The Missing Link' and perhaps it lies in it's quaint production values. The sound is patchy, the animation uneven and performances somewhat forgettable but somehow it lingers like a guilty pleasure that draws snickers rather than belly laughs. There are some genuinely funny moments and some fabulous characters such as the fast talking, wise-guy, Pterodactyl and a fire breathing Dragon voiced by Bill Murray that is certain to get a laugh. The comedy largely depends on cartoon violence and sexual suggestion and is not at all confronting by today's standards and somehow seems naive and cute. Whilst 'The Missing Link' it is not Disney or even Hanna-Barbera, it reminds us of how important it is to admire these largely forgotten films that somehow get made through dedication and love and slip through the cracks in defiance of all that is mainstream.

F. Drebin