Rent it on Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and Amazon.
There is a moment in this film when the main character, Marcel, says to the person filming him, "Guess why I smile a lot...'cause it's worth it!" This exchange of dialogue is this movie in a nutshell; a charming and unusual character who carries an entire movie on his shoulders and is only one inch tall. This kind of movie warrants the phrase, "they don't make 'em like this anymore!" With fascinating animation work and clever storytelling, a simple tiny shell purchased from a hobby store has been transformed into a delightful story of perseverance, family, and hope.
Said story follows a sentient shell named Marcel (Jenny Slate) who lives with his grandmother Connie (Isabella Rossellini) in a house for rent on Airbnb. One of the more recent tenants, an amateur filmmaker named Dean (Dean Fleischer Camp), decides to make a documentary about Marcel and his life. Dean learns about Marcel's sudden and accidental separation from the rest of his family and community and tries his best to help Marcel find them through online videos asking people to share any insight. Meanwhile, Marcel provides some heartwarming and intriguing insight of his own.
The film succeeds in making a tiny sentient shell feel tangible. It's a fantastic demonstration of how much character carries more weight than anything else in a narrative. Because Marcel feels so much like a relatable person, it's easy to forget that he's animated. A fantastic feat I haven't seen done so well since the first Toy Story.
Speaking of the animation, while it is top-notch and beautifully executed, I am left wondering why it was nominated for an Oscar for "Best Animated Feature." Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it was nominated for something, as the film indubitably deserves it, but how does a film receive a nomination in this category when 98% of the film was captured on traditional live-action cameras? I would like to know where this logic was when we all supported an Oscar nomination for Andy Serkis for his role in the Planet of the Apes reboot films.
Despite this somewhat confusing situation with its Oscar nomination, Marcel The Shell with Shoes On is a delightful film with plenty of heart to brighten your day. Absolutely worth the rental price.
Check it out.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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