Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Review
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021) Film Review, a movie directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp, written by Dean Fleischer-Camp, Elisabeth Holm and Nick Paley and starring Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer-Camp, Isabella Rossellini, Joe Gabler, Samuel Painter, Lesley Stahl, Rosa Salazar, Thomas Mann, Andy Richter, Nathan Fielder, Jessi Klein and Peter Bonerz. The new A24 mockumentary, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is quite special and combines live-action scenes with stop motion animation. Filmmaker Dean Fleischer-Camp has brought a unique vision to the screen which is certain to appeal to those who enjoy unusual characters in existential dilemmas. Movies like this one remind me of Babe from 1995 which was about a little pig who could. This new picture is about a little one-eyed shell who could if he was just pointed in the right direction. Jenny Slate, who voices the shell named –you guessed it– Marcel, is a genius for voicing this character the way she does. She goes from a bit whiny in the beginning to absolutely perfect in terms of creating Marcel as a fully relatable character who the audience will grow to love.
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Marcel introduces himself to the audience as the film begins and is given a proper introduction for sure. There are two former owners of Marcel’s home named Mark (Thomas Mann) and Larissa (Rosa Salazar) who we learn have recently decided to separate. Documentarian Dean (Fleischer-Camp) is the catalyst for the movie’s plot to take flight. The action is set in L.A. and the character of Dean meets the sometimes uncertain about life shell and his sometimes wise beyond her years gardener grandma Connie (Isabella Rossellini of 1993’s Fearless). Dean finds them interesting enough to start shooting footage of the pair that, when revealed, will help move the story forward. Marcel, it turns out, misses his other family. What kind of family does Marcel consider his family? That’s an interesting concept that the movie humorously (and seriously) takes on and we begin to wonder if there are more little gems like Marcel out there. It’s funny how Marcel transports himself around his home with honey on his shoes that sticks to the walls to help him get around. He even uses a piece of bread as a bed. However, the pleasure of the movie is in its philosophical insights that the movie unveils to the viewer a little at a time. Slate is pure gold as Marcel’s voice and creates a confident at times, multi-dimensional little character who inhabits a tiny shell. It is said that there was improvisation involved here and that is evident in the movie by the realistic, creative and natural flowing dialogue that keeps the audience 100% interested in the story’s development. This film is also secretly a big advertisement for “60 Minutes,” the news program which has always been one of the most digestible ways to obtain difficult information. Lesley Stahl from the show connects with Dean to book Marcel for an interview. But, alas, just as things start to happen for Marcel, a plot development throws Marcel’s existence for a loop and the movie takes a serious turn towards making a more profound statement on the importance of cherishing every day. The mutually beneficial talks between Dean and Marcel are absolutely thought-provoking too and help shed light on how Marcel perceives the world around him. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is an inspired journey that takes its audience to a place that will touch both the heart and the mind. When Babe came out, it inspired Oscar nominations, nice box-office returns and a sequel. Don’t count out this new picture from inspiring at least two out of those three things. Jenny Slate deserves a lot of credit for bringing this movie into full view by sharing her unusual idea of Marcel with the world. Stories like these usually get told by parents to their children and remain unshared with the rest of the world. This movie could open up the door for more inspired ideas to come into view in the cinematic world. Like the way the story in the movie inspires fans of Marcel, the story behind the story could also prove inspiring in its own right to potential storytellers. Stahl delivers a fine performance here which is all in fun, and there’s plenty of details that are certainly well-realized throughout the picture. I believe the emotional center of the movie that works best is in the scenes between Marcel and Connie. Rossellini’s voice has always been very distinct, and her work here is of the highest caliber making Connie come to life perfectly. It’s impossible not to sympathize with her character. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is the type of movie that could run on the art house circuit all summer and gives Babe a run for its money with its heartwarming sincerity. It’s a movie that you will cherish watching even if it does feel a bit too challenging for its own good at times. Still, this film is a notable achievement that should be seen. Rating: 8.5/10 Leave your thoughts on this Marcel the Shell with Shoes On review and the film below in the comments section. Readers seeking to support this type of content can visit our Patreon Page and become one of FilmBook’s patrons. Readers seeking more film reviews can visit our Movie Review Page, our Movie Review Twitter Page, and our Movie Review Facebook Page. Want up-to-the-minute notifications? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Flipboard.
