“Missing Link” from Laika, an American stop-motion animation studio, is a world-traveling Victorian-era adventure.

Described by writer-director Chris Butler as “if David Lean directed ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ starring Laurel and Hardy,” the story tells about the efforts of Sir Lionel Frost (voiced by Hugh Jackman), an adventurer* skilled in the investigation of myths and monsters, to create a lasting legacy. He believes he may finally be accepted into the snooty* Optimates Club when he proves the existence of the elusive* Sasquatch living deep in the forests of America’s Pacific Northwest.

It turns out the mythical creature does exist. One of them (Zack Galifianakis), an understandably sheltered, somewhat nervous and surprisingly articulate* individual has a proposition* for the explorer: In exchange for providing him with proof of his existence, the lonely Mr. Link will be accompanied to the fabled Shangri-La hidden in the Himalayas, where he’s hoping to find love and support among his distant relatives, the Yeti.

Joining them on their journey is the lively Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana), a pretty girl Frost once loved who has the only map that will take them to their destination*. It’s a journey of self-acceptance.

Similar to “Paddington Bear,” “Mr. Link” has a dryly British comedic sense that can make following simple instructions at times dangerous.

One wishes the script might have shared the degree of precision that has been applied to the technical side of the production, which is rich in visual dazzle from the smallest beads of sweat on a character’s forehead to the old-fashioned knit fabrics to the exotic* landscapes.

A new color 3-D printing technology allows for the creation of complete individual animated facial performances instead of the interchangeable face kits used previously for their stop-motion characters.

The star cast also includes Emma Thompson as a less-than-hospitable Yeti leader known as The Elder.

Despite the effective voice cast and great visual effects, “Missing Link” somehow fails to resonate with* the audience.(SD-Agencies)