MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate) is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie (Isabella Rossellini) 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, Dean (Dean Fleischer Camp) 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.

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On is based on a series of shorts from 2010 created by Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer Camp. The first short premiered theatrically at AFI Fest in 2010 where it was awarded Best Animated Short. It was also an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. Because of its popularity, it’s easy to understand why Slate and Fleischer Camp wanted to make a feature length film based on their beloved character. Marcel The Shell With Shoes On premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in September 2021 before being released in the United States in June 2022. It was successful with critics who praised the heartwarming story and the character of Marcel. Because of this, my expectations were high for Marcel The Shell With Shoes On and, fortunately, it didn’t disappoint.

What I liked most about Marcel The Shell With Shoes On was its accessibility. Anyone of any age can watch and enjoy what Fleischer and Slate have created. You don’t have to necessarily be familiar with Marcel and his shorts in order to enjoy the film. It’s also further proof that animation isn’t just for children and something their parents have to endure but can explore important themes and tell meaningful stories through imaginative animation. The screenplay, which was written by Fleischer Camp, Slate and Nick Paley, tackles serious and important themes such as loss and family in an effective way. Marcel The Shell With Shoes On is never too serious or funny and is just a warm, pleasant film that can be enjoyed by anyone.

What’s most impressive about Marcel The Shell With Shoes On is the stop-motion animation. Because it’s not the quickest or easiest of methods when creating an animated film, it’s understandable why animators avoid it. However, when it’s used as skilfully as it is in Marcel The Shell, the end result can be impressive. To us, a house is just somewhere we live, however, for the tiny shell, Marcel, the adventures he goes on are endless. It’s fascinating seeing the world from the perspective of Marcel who has the personality of a child and finds happiness in the simplest of things, making him an easy character to love and, as a result, the film as a whole is a delight from start to finish.

At the time of writing this review, Marcel The Shell With Shoes On is nominated for Best Animated Feature, alongside Pixar’s Turning Red, Netflix’s The Sea Beast, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, which I think is likely to win following its success at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs. The last year has been great in terms of animation with del Toro, in his acceptance speech, describing animation as a genuine cinematic tool and not just something designed for children. Because the most successful animated films are those that are immature comedies aimed at children, it can, unfortunately, mean that animated films, like Marcel The Shell, can be overlooked. It’s definitely a film worth watching on the big screen as it provides audiences with ninety minutes of joyful escapism through impressive stop motion animation and its adorable titular character. 

8/10