Mr. Link (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) appears in a scene from “Missing Link.”

There is something delightfully offbeat about “Missing Link,” the latest animated film from Chris Butler – the creator of “ParaNorman” and co-writer of “Kubo and the Two Strings.” It’s a film that marches to its own drum, something that kids will appreciate and parents will thoroughly enjoy as well.

“Link” tells the story of Sir Lionel Frost (voiced by Hugh Jackman), an Englishman who has made a career out of hunting mythical creatures to prove their existence – and gather acclaim among his fellow scientific peers.

Frost gets the chance of a lifetime when he receives a letter from someone who claims to know the whereabouts of the legendary Missing Link in the Pacific Northwest.

This person turns out to in fact be Mr. Link (voiced by Zach Galifianakis), who has a proposition for Frost: Help him get to Shangri-La and find his long-lost relatives in the Yetti tribe and he will give Frost the chance to prove Mr. Link’s existence to Frost’s colleagues.

Frost agrees, and they set out on the journey, along with fellow adventurer and Frost acquaintance Adelina Fortnight (voiced by Zoe Saldana), while Frost’s rival Lord Piggot-Dunceb (voiced by Stephen Fry) tries to stop them.

Butler, who wrote and directed “Missing Link,” brings the same dry humor, and at times dark tone, that he did to “ParaNorman.” It’s a formula that works well for the material and the cast, creating a witty and charming experience that plays well to the adults in the room but has enough simplicity to be appreciated by children as well.

Jackman seems to be having a lot of fun as Frost, with Saldana heading up a supporting cast that also includes fun work from Timothy Olyphant and Emma Thompson.

But the heart and soul of “Missing Link” is Galifianakis, with a role that suits his comedic timing perfectly. Whether it’s a throwaway line or a carefully crafted punchline set up by his castmates, Galifianakis nails it completely. This is easily his best work since the original “Hangover” film more than a decade ago – a role that he makes his own.

It makes for a film with plenty of laughs for audiences of all ages – a family film that is leaps and bounds above the other offerings currently in theaters (I’m looking right at you “Dumbo”).

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Zach Galifianakis (voices)

Directed by: Chris Butler

Rating: PG for action/peril and some mild rude humor

Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)

Grade: B