Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is an Endearing, Sincere Adventure

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Review

Undeniably charming and cute, it’s difficult to muster up anything negative to say about the adorable world crafted by writer/director Dean Fleischer-Camp and co-writer Jenny Slate in Marcel the Shell With Shoes On. Based on the short film of the same name, Slate reprises her role as Marcel and expands greatly on the premise to deliver a heartwarming tale of courage and persistence in the face of great odds. Though its quirk may leave some distance to its charms, Marcel the Shell With Shoes On does an excellent job walking a tightrope of melancholy and perseverance with a smile on its face.

A tiny talking shell that lives in an Airbnb with his grandmother, Nanna Connie (Isabella Rossellini), Marcel quickly captures the attention of Dean (played by Dean Fleischer-Camp), a recently-divorced filmmaker who moves into the same Airbnb. Filming Marcel’s day-to-day routines in an attempt to survive in a world so much bigger than himself, Dean’s documentary soon takes a turn from idle filming to proactive research as he helps Marcel find the family he once lived with before they disappeared.

However, it’s a challenge that is daunting at first for both Dean and Marcel. Dean finds himself unable to really open up, pointing his camera at Marcel to ask questions but reluctant to answer any questions pointed back at him. Meanwhile, Marcel acts as caretaker to his grandmother while trying to keep the two of them safe from harm. As shells, they’re not exactly built for a world that’s significantly bigger than them, and that breeds a sense of fear in Marcel that will require help to overcome.

This is where Marcel the Shell With Shoes On finds its charm. Not content on simply being a story of an adorable shell on the search for his family, Fleischer-Camp, Slate, and co-writer Nick Paley bring the documentarian into that search and focus on the ability to overcome obstacles seemingly too large just by communicating and forging relationships. As the film proceeds, Marcel is not just a subject to Dean – he’s a friend. As cute as it sounds, it serves up more than it initially suggests by the time the credits roll and the film’s sense of community engulf it. 

The internet also becomes a significant component of Marcel’s journey, live streaming via TikTok and YouTube to try and gain traction in his research. By introducing social media to Marcel’s quest, Dean and Marcel are not the only participants in the film – it often feels like the events are unfolding in real-time with the audience also being included. It’s the benefit of the mockumentary style and the use of stop-motion animation for Marcel and Connie while keeping the rest of the film live-action. There’s whimsy and immersion at the same time.

It’s that balancing act that lets Marcel the Shell With Shoes On get away with leaning into its quirky universe. Slate’s performance effectively conveys the emotional current running through the film, but it’s the humor and DIY nature of Marcel’s survival tactics that keep things light. Surprisingly this doesn’t result in a distance from the emotional moments, instead playing up the camaraderie between Marcel and those his courage and strength infect, leaving the audience sharing the same headspace.

That levity might lessen the impact of Marcel’s journey for some and the way the film ends is ultimately lackluster as a result of trying to strip itself of too much emotional baggage, but Marcel the Shell With Shoes On rarely misses its mark. An encouraging and endearing adventure that is both playful and sentimental at the same time, Fleischer-Camp’s efforts to create a wholesome film about community feels effortlessly realized. The way it presents itself is earnest with few films coming close to touching its genuine and sincere nature.