I didn’t think is was possible, with the gluttony of commercial “family” films, particularly in the animated genre, that you could surprise and delight while exploding with originality, but then here comes “Marcel in the shell with shoes on”. Director Dean Fleisure-Camp and co-writer, and voice of Marcel, Jenny Slate, have delivered a funny, heartwarming and inspirational masterpiece of observation, resilience and community in a social media world.
Marcel is a one eyed shell who has created a life hiding in the spaces we never look in an air B&B. He is discovered by Dean who has built a relationship with Marcel, and shoots videos of the sub one inch shell. He posted some clips of Marcel entertaining himself, cleverly using the inside of a tennis ball to move through the house, dipping his shoes in honey to climb up a wall, and using spoons as a catapult things. He shares this world with his grandmother Nana who enjoys her garden and loves encouraging Marcel’s overall enthusiasm and optimism.
Marcel and Nana were left behind when the previous couple abruptly left after a fight and unwittingly took the rest of the family and community with them as they hid for safety in the sock drawer. All 26 of them. Marcel becomes an internet sensation, and he gets the idea to try and use his popularity on the internet to help find his family. The post garners millions of views, and marcel is hopeful the people, who leave friendly comments will help him. He finds out quickly though that they are simply interested in reposting or posing for selfies in the yard. However, Marcel’s eternal optimism will not be denied as he continues his search for his family.
That is pretty much the story. Nothing too groundbreaking in the narrative, but what is remarkable is the fantastic voice work of Jenny Slate. She makes Marcel optimistic, smart, resilient, tough, vulnerable and funny while working through heartbreak and seeing the magic in the world that most of us walk by every day. Issabella Rosellini is equally wonderful as Nana. The two are so connected. They know each other’s thoughts and often finish each other’s sentences. They riff so naturally together. When they talk about the love of 60 minutes, and in tandem imitate the “tick, tick, tick, tick……” you can feel the history between these two. They exist, it seems, only to support and delight one another.
Dean is a nice character who tries to remain a 3rd party and friend to the two as he shoots the videos for the internet. Marcel is not a big fan of his dog, though. The animation of the shells and a few of the insects is crude but so appropriate and somehow makes them relatable. The film is shot from the POV of the 1 inch shells and it is such a unique perspective. The only thing close to the experience is the Pixar Toy Story films in its exploration of our world and many gadgets and everyday items from an entirely different perspective. It has a lot to say about the importance of community and observes both the good and gaps of the social media communities.
“Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” is a small film that is lost in the world of big budget block busters, but I am confident that it will find a broader audience and will be a generational family classic and a popular film at day cares and grade schools for years to come. Dean Fliesure Camp and company have created a really unique and special film that will make you feel joyful upon leaving, and the talented Jenny Slate has given life and a soul to a character the whole world will fall in love with and stay with us forever. Thank you all for giving us this wonderful and optimistic film in such divisive times. If you go to the theater to see this movie you will leave it hopeful. That alone makes it worth seeing and I can’t wait to watch it again.