Animated feature Marcel the Shell with Shoes On was one of the most talked about films during awards season. An adaptation of the short of the same name, everybody fell in love with the titular mollusc. Sadly, that love didn’t translate to many actual awards, but the little guy has won over even the most cold-hearted and that is a far finer achievement. After waiting for what feels like forever, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On arrives onto home entertainment formats in the UK meaning one thing – the cult of Marcel is about to multiply.
Shot in a documentary format, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, follows the enchanting tale of filmmaker Dean (played by the films director Dean Fleischer Camp) who stumbles across a curious creature, Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate), during his Airbnb stay. Inspired by the friendly shell, Dean embarks on chronicling Marcel’s life. The young mollusc lives in the house with his grandmother, Nana Connie (voiced by Isabella Rossellini). The two were once part of a much bigger community, but a tragedy resulted in the family being separated. As the pair of Dean and Marcel begin to connect, they set out on a journey to find Marcel’s lost family.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a joyful and heartwarming tale. Marcel himself is a delightfully positive character whose innocent outlook on life is infectiously adorable. His charming mantras are accompanied by some beautiful moments of comedy. In order to survive as a two shell household, Marcel has had to adapt appliances around the home to complete tasks. From using a mixer and rope to shake fruit off of trees, to travelling around the house in a tennis ball, Marcel’s ideas are ingeniously unique. The oddity of his mind infuses a strong vein of quirky family that audiences, young and old alike, will love.
It isn’t just charming amusement, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On also houses a wealth of emotional depth. There is the obvious heartstrings story of a child separated from his family, but also the film deals with some complex issues around older relatives. Nana Connie is not in the best of health; her plot is handled delicately and is sure to get tears following. Then there is a brief subplot exploring the pleasure and pain of internet fame and even the mostly only heard character of Dean has an arc. All plot points combine to create a beautiful and bittersweet story that may wreck your emotions at times, but ends on such a lovely note that the viewer’s heart will swell tenfold.
The animation itself is stunning. A stop-motion feature, this project has been a long time coming. A great deal of love has been poured into its creation and the results are breathtaking. The blending of the stop-motion with the real house setting is so seamless that it definitely opens up the possibilities of Marcel as a viable being. It will certainly spark the imaginations of young minds, so be prepared to go on a shell hunt once the viewing is over. With so much work having gone into the creation of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, it is a shame that the only special feature included on the release is a trailer. It would be great to have a peek behind the curtain, though perhaps that would spoil its magic.
A lovingly made slice of wide-eyed innocence, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is one of those truly special movies that don’t come around often. Like Paddington before it, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is filled to bursting with joyful emotions. Prepare to laugh, cry, and feel whole again with this adorable animation.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is available to own on Blu-ray and DVD from Monday 26th June.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Summary
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On tugs at all the right heartstrings, creating a perfect life-affirming film that can be enjoyed by all generations of the family.
