Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. But when a documentary filmmaker discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family.

  • Released: 2022-05-04
  • Runtime: 90 minutes
  • Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy
  • Stars: Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer-Camp, Isabella Rossellini, Thomas Mann, Rosa Salazar, Lesley Stahl, Nathan Fielder, Andy Richter, Sarah Thyre, Jessi Klein, Peter Bonerz
  • Director: Dean Fleischer-Camp
 Comments
  • BadRoosevelt - 22 April 2024
    Whimsical film is only briefly fascinating; novelty wears off very quickly
    A premise can be sweet, cute, endearing and sincere. But sometimes that is not enough. It also has to be interesting and insightful. An allegory is meant to stand for something. But is an allegory really good at standing for something when it's too peculiar, muddled or off-kilter in itself? That's a good question when to ask as you're watching this twee film about a tiny shell that copes with a diminished existence when its community is upended by a change in the living situation of the young couple that lived in the house the shell calls home and the world.

    It tries to be philosophical but gets stuck in some weirdness. It's at its best when it touches on the phenomenon of rapid social media fame. The idea of a shell as the subject and protagonist of a homemade documentary by an airBrB visitor only goes so far. The film tries and tries to strike a chord and only connects some of the time. This shell's story soon becomes an odd thing to get invested in and before long, you'll be wondering where it's even going, if you still care in the end. Given the critical hype, I'm going to ring this up as a misfire.
  • mikelpcl - 3 January 2024
    Full of heart. Americans making a ghibli movie, and succeeding
    Marcel catches you from the very first second and doesn't let you go.

    It's a heartfelt movie, with characters you will immediately come to care about. It's a shell, and you still care about it.

    It's constantly creative, sweet and fun. But still gives you that little bit of satire. But more than anything else, it's sincere and made with so much love.

    Technically, you won't find any fault. The animation is exquite, the whole movie has such great sense of rhythm, ...

    I'm trying to think about how to describe it, and I think I must say it's just as if a bunch of Americans made a good Ghibli movie.

    It's THAT good.
  • masonfisk - 15 July 2023
    DON'T LOOK A GIFT SHELL IN THE MOUTH...?
    One of the nominees from last year's Best Animated Feature Oscar. Marcel, a shell, lives in a home where the bickering AirBNB couple have left leaving a documentarian, who is fascinated w/Marcel's (voiced by Jenny Slate) life & story, decides to follow him along his day's activities & learn about his struggles, dreams & the company he keeps w/his dotty grandmother, voiced by Isabella Rossellini. Things get hectic however when the doc man, co-writer/director Dean Fleischer Camp, starts posting clips on youtube of Marcel which garners him a lot of attention but even w/that there's a certain bit of loneliness which settles in, especially after his nana passes, which is evident but soon enough through the intervention of an intrepid reporter, Marcel gets a chance to reunite w/her missing family. Based on a short, this new expanded effort is charm city all the way w/witty asides & visual gags (his love of Lesley Stahl from 60 Minutes makes way for an amusing cameo) w/the sheer simplicity of it astounding to behold. Also starring Rosa Salazar & Thomas Mann as the feuding pair.
  • AnimatedCritic - 18 December 2022
    A Lovely Film
    I don't have a lot to say about this film, but I will state how beautiful this film is. Jenny Slate and the stop-motion all are able to portray the nuanced world of Marcel in a compelling way. The Message of the film is also well done, with Marcel needing to come out of his shell, and explore the world. It also explores loneliness, community, naivete, and your loved ones. I would definitely show this film to young children, to help them to introduce them to these themes.

    -I still need some characters, so I'll just say that between this and Everything Everywhere all at Once, I'm really looking forward into seeing more indie films in the near future.
  • jaysonpajaronvistal - 30 October 2022
    Guess why I smile a lot? Because it is worth it.
    Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Dir. Dean Fleischer-Camp Rating: 8/10

    Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy.

    Marcel the Shell is a profound mockumentary that dives deeply into grief, loss, trauma, community, and friendship in a form of a lighthearted and kid-friendly atmosphere. I have never cried in a movie for quite some time now, but with Marcel, I have never been this moved since I saw Manchester By The Sea. Marcel the Shell is a very clever, funny, and heartwarming film, but at the same time, it does not manipulate your emotions. You will find yourself enjoying the conversation between Marcel, Dean, and Connie, but as they dive deeper into their everyday life, you discover their sense of longingness and grief.

    Marcel the Shell is not a perfect film, it is flawed, but the film shines because of its sincerity and passion that translates on the big screen. What makes this film truly special is it came at a perfect time when people tend to forget the importance of relationships and community. It is cleverly written and with utmost sincerity from the writing and characters. As you finished the film, it will leave you feeling happier about life. The film is more than just a sweet and light-hearted Marcel, they were able to talk about grief and loss in a very poignant and profound way.

    Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a feel-good and ultimate mood-booster film, but as the movie progresses, you'll resonate more with the characters and the relationship that Marcel, Dean, and Connie have established. In these pandemic times, the film's themes of discovering connection and determining adventure will hit you to the core. Marcel the Shell is evidence that you can make a convincing film about anything, whether it could be a dog, a shell, or a rock---all you have to do is write a story with sincerity that people can relate to.

    The whole film is well-balanced, well-grounded, and well-narrated, and it will change the trajectory of your life for the better. A wholesome film that kids and adults will enjoy.
  • A_Different_Drummer - 14 September 2022
    Remember Borat was an international hit
    Seriously. Before you reach for that keypad and say anything unkind about Marcel (who has never said an unkind word about anyone, and generally keeps his opinions to himself), remember that our culture elevated BORAT to cult status back in 2006. So, if BORAT was great film-making, Marcel will need a new pair of shoes -- and probably a tux -- to accept his long-overdue Oscar. Even before this project got to the big screen (or small device used in place of a big screen) it was already an internet sensation for voice actress Jenny Slate. Jenny's tone and delivery are so delicately nuanced that it makes the award given to FINDING NEMO back in 2004 look like an accounting error. Words like DELIGHTFUL, CAPTIVATING, and UNIQUE don't do Marcel justice. I would ask the little guy to step up here and say a few words for himself, but right now I think he is trying to find a way to make bird sculptures from ice cream. Ever since the feature release, he doesn't sleep much. Or, if he does, he keeps one eye open. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))