Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021) - Movie Review

Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp

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Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a quirky and charming live-action hybrid stop-motion film that does a perfect job of what it's attempting to achieve. It isn't overly ambitious, but remains memorable.

The Oscar-nominated animated mockumentary follows a tiny shell who lives with his Grandmother and pet lint - the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. A documentary filmmaker comes across them and Marcel goes viral - leading to danger, TV appearances, and a hope for Marcel at finding his long-lost family.

This feature film is based on a series of short films of the same name which gained much popularity in the 2010s.

The movie is animated using the stop-motion technique: taking a photo for every frame, and moving the character a little each time. It blends seamlessly with the live-action elements and the audience completely forgets that Marcel is moving through a series of photographs. The 90 minute runtime is ideal, ensuring that the film doesn't feel bloated nor cut short. Surprisingly, the film isn't irritating in the slightest, it's genuinely funny instead.

Creating a feature film based on shorts is a challenging task, but writers Dean Fletcher-Camp, Jenny Slate, Nick Paley and Elizabeth Holm succeed in making an engaging movie with plot points that flow nicely, There is certainly enough of a story to tell in feature film length, proving that the character and concept don't solely work as shorts.

The score compliments the movie very nicely, guiding the viewer through various emotions. It's a heartwarming story that succeeds in tugging at the viewer's heartstrings.

Jenny Slate plays Marcel in the movie

I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I found myself empathising with a shell. Marcel feels like a real person - full of emotion, personality and character. He goes through the peaks and valleys of life, and the viewer feels all those emotions, partially due to Marcel's expressions and actress Jenny Slate's incredible voice-acting.

It's hilarious to see how Marcel interacts with the world around him, whether it's his interview for 60 minutes or his genius inventions for navigating the house, like rolling around from inside a tennis ball. Marcel's conversations with his grandmother, Connie are touching and give great insight into his character. The two contrast each other - Connie's quiet wisdom has a great dynamic with Marcel's youthful enthusiasm which is a joy to watch.

One of the highlights from the film is getting to see the world from Marcel's point of view. Cinematographer Bianca Cline captures simple household items from the shell's eyes, making mundane things seem intriguing, wonderful or intimidating.

The movie's explores a wide array of themes, such as love, loss and purpose. It has a heartfelt message about family and life which it delivers fairly subtly, leaving the viewer ending the film on a high.

I highly recommend Marcel the Shell with Shoes On for a nice blend of comedy and heartwarming character moments. It's no wonder it's Oscar nominated, as its style is very unique and the story leaves a large impact on the audience.

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Watch Marcel the Shell with Shoes On on Amazon Prime Video