“Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” Review
Nanna Connie (Left) and Marcel (voiced by Isabella Rossellini and Jenny slate respectively) are anthropomorphic shells which live in an Airbnb in “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.”
We are all familiar with the concept of a mockumentary: a film or series which tells a fictional, often comedic story, with the conventions of a documentary. While initially a novelty, the genre has become insanely popular on television with series like “The Office,” “Modern Family,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Documentary Now” being beloved by critics and audiences. However, it was the movies that made the genre popular in the first place with “This is Spinal Tap,” the work of Christopher Guest and “Borat” all being smash hits.
Now, a new mockumentary has come along which is one of the most sweet and charming films of the year. “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” was a surprisingly adorable tale which I believe to be one of the greatest mockumentaries of recent years, possibly of all time.
After moving into an Airbnb, amatuer filmmaker Dean (the film’s director Dean Fleischer Camp) encounters the one-inch tall, anthropomorphic shell Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate) who lives out of sight in the house with his grandmother Nanna Connie (voiced by Isabella Rossellini). Enamored with Marcel and his simplistic, yet intriguing view of the world, Dean begins to make short documentaries about Marcel and how he lives his life. As the videos become more popular on YouTube and Marcel becomes a social media sensation, Marcel pursues his desire to be reunited with his extended family who disappeared two years ago.
What I love about this film is just how completely honest it is. Marcel is a simple character with simple goals but those goals are so uniquely universal. He wants his family back so that he and Nanna Connie won’t be lonely and you feel that desire and are rooting for him the entire time.
As with all films distributed by A24, you know that you’re going to see something new. The fact that this film got me to empathize so much with a talking shell shows just how creative and different this film is from anything being made right now.
After starring in documentary shorts, Marcel becomes famous and uses that fame to try and find his lost family.
The film’s stop-motion animation is absolutely charming and Marcel feels so tangible. Seeing him living his life is fascinating, including how he uses appliances and objects to get food and water. One of the funniest parts of the film shows Marcel using a tennis ball as a form of transportation by getting inside of its hollow center and rolling it around.
Before this film, Marcel the Shell began as the main star of three shorts directed by Fleischer Camp, starring Jenny Slate and being co-written by the two of them. Now, over a decade after the first short, Jenny Slate has become a popular figure in comedy thanks to her work on “Parks and Recreation,” “Big Mouth,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Zootopia.” Now that she’s revisiting this role, you feel that passion she has for this character and it’s so delightful.
Also a powerhouse of emotion is Isabella Rossellini who is so sweet as Nanna Connie. Her relationship with Marcel is so endearing because all they have is each other and Nanna Connie helps support Marcel’s creative ambitions including singing with him and pushing him to let himself be seen.
Dean Fleischer Camp’s direction is outstanding and perfectly utilizes the documentary format to make this character feel real. “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” has all of the raw feeling of an amatuer film with the precision of a more polished filmmaker. When Fleischer Camp’s character in the film, who mainly is behind the camera, becomes a part of the story, there’s a fascinating relationship between him and Marcel. Dean wants to not be seen as is custom for a documentarian but Marcel, as the sweet shell he is, wants to know more and establish a friendship. It then hit me what this film is truly about.
Film is about reconciliation and that’s just as true behind-the-scenes as it is in the story. Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer Camp, while they were making the shorts, were married and then divorced and still came together to make this film. According to a New Yorker article which contained an interview with Fleischer Camp, the two still have nothing but respect for each other and have a great working relationship. Just as the film is about Marcel trying to reunite with his family, it’s also about two artists reuniting out of mutual respect and love for something that is special to both of them.
That special feeling is present throughout the film and contains so many sweet moments that will resonate with audiences. When Marcel sings a cover of The Eagles’ “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” I cried. I also think that people of all ages will connect to this story which makes “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” an unconventional family film. If you’re looking for something uplifting and sweet, this is an incredible film to witness.
