Marcel The Shell With Shoes On Review
Tonight, Captain Kaye reviews the latest critical darling from A24, directed by Dean Flescher Camp and starring himself, Jerry Slate, Isabelle Rossellini, Rosa Salazar, and Thomas Mann, Marcel The Shell with Shoes On!
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a mixed media mockumentary directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, making his feature directorial debut, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jenny Slate and Nick Paley, based on a series of YouTube shorts of the same name from 2010. The film follows Marcel, a one inch tall shell who lives with his grandmother, Connie, the only residents of their town after their neighbors' sudden, mysterious disappearance. When discovered by a guest amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans and a new hope of reuniting with his long-lost family.
Without burying the lede, this is my #1 movie of the year. While it's a great problem to have, I am a little annoyed how many films this year have INSISTED on jumping straight to the top of the list. However, like all of my reviews, I have to be honest about my opinion, and I promise you from the bottom of my heart that this movie more than deserves the coveted 5/5.
Starting with the overall production, one thing I adored about this is how handcrafted it felt. I'm choosing my words carefully, because I'm not entirely sure how much was pure stop-motion animation, how much CGI was incorporated, and whether or not the ratio of live action vs animated assets qualify this as an animated feature for awards consideration. All of that being said, there's so much sincerity to this movie that I was never "distracted" by its very premise. Quality notwithstanding, it's a film cut from the same cloth as the Paddington franchise or the works of Don Hertzfeldt.
Admittedly, I can't say that I've seen the original shorts, nor are they a pre-requisite to enjoy this movie. What's most important is whether or not you connect emotionally with the titular protagonist, and you're goddamn right I did. On the surface, Marcel's arc is pretty simple: he just wants to reconnect with his family and rebuild the community he once had. But we all know there's more to a film than what lies on the surface. This is a coming-of-age story about finding one's self, embracing change, and not letting fear of the unknown hold you back. As someone who's about to turn 30 in three months, that was something I couldn't help but relate to. I've never been the greatest at adapting to change, and far too many opportunities have passed me by because I've given in to the toxic brew of anxiety and a lack of self-confidence. That's exactly why seeing Marcel take such huge leaps forward throughout this film was very uplifting.
Now, in the hands of any other filmmaker, this is an element of the film that could have gone horribly wrong if not handled with Fleischer Camp's delicate approach. In the movie, Marcel becomes an internet sensation, much like he did in real-life with the original YouTube shorts. His popularity even rises to the point that it attracts the attention of Lesley Stahl, the host of CBS's 60 Minutes. While one could argue that the inclusion of any assortment of pop culture references could result in a film becoming "dated," the real life origins of this character not only make such references acceptable, but necessary. Specifically in terms of 60 Minutes, that was how Marcel and his grandmother Connie bonded with each other, meaning there was emotional resonance to its inclusion.
Everyone in this cast is incredible. There's not a single bad performance, not even from Dean Fleischer Camp playing basically himself in the film. Jenny Slate breathes so much life and childlike wonder to her performance as Marcel that she completely disappears into the role. The same could also be said about Isabella Rossellini, who provides the voice of Connie. Their chemistry is astounding, reminding me a great deal of the relationship I have with my grandmother. Thomas Mann and Rosa Salazar have minor roles as the original owners of the house in which Marcel and Dean are staying, and while they're not in the film as long, you still get the gist of their personalities through Marcel's lens.
I could talk about this movie forever, but eventually I have to stop typing. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is something special, not so much a unicorn in this modern movie landscape, but certainly a rare and shiny Pokémon. If this movie is playing in a theater near you, I encourage you to seek this out as soon as you can!
