Film Review: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Starring: Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer Camp, Isabella Rossellini
Running time: 90 minutes

Every now and then, a film will come out that is pure magic, that is so remarkable that you would implore everyone - regardless of what they’re usually into - to watch it. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is one of those films. A shining ray of light in this month of darkness, it’s one giant hug of a film, but one that isn’t afraid to drag you to more challenging places. Simply put, it’s perfect. 

Following the life of Marcel (Jenny Slate, who also co-writes), a sentient one-eyed shell, through the lens of amateur filmmaker Dean (director and co-writer Dean Fleischer Camp), this stop-motion sensation is intelligent, witty and well worth your time. Across ninety touching minutes, you follow this little bundle of wonder as he navigates newfound fame, his first foray into the wider world, and the deteriorating health of his grandmother, Connie (Isabella Rossellini) - and you’re hooked for every second of that time. 

It’s slightly preposterous that the tale of a talking mollusk could offer up such a complicated cocktail of emotions, but Camp and Slate deliver this and more. By sincerely diving into subjects including the importance of family and what it means to belong, the viewer connects with this curious character as if he were a friend of our own, and you want nothing but the best for the little guy throughout. 

One particular subplot, surrounding Rossellini’s ageing Connie and Marcel’s struggle to deal with her slow demise, hits with an especially heavy thud, capturing the heartache that comes with the thought of losing a loved one with serious sophistication. In all, the script is near flawless, mulling over such complicated issues with grace and nuance, never drifting into outright melodrama. 

At the same time, Marcel the Shell is one of the most genuinely hilarious films in quite some time, leaning into its bizarre premise and making the most of its unique characters from literally the very first scene. Editor Nick Paley, and Camp, deserve praise for their comedic timing, each beat of punchline-underlining silence failing to miss the mark. Slate’s impressive talent takes things up a level too, the Parks and Recreation graduate exploiting her esteemed comedic background to full effect. 

Since Slate’s Marcel is such a scene-stealing delight, though, it could be easy to brush over just how expertly crafted this movie is as an out-and-out piece of cinema. Cinematographer Bianca Cline shoots a stunning visual treat, the hazy, dreamlike aesthetics lulling you into this heartwarming world brilliantly. These visuals complement the work of stop-motion director of photography Eric Adkins to perfection, with the painstaking attention-to-detail making it easy to see why this has received a nod at next month’s Oscars. In truth, if there’s any justice in this godforsaken universe, Marcel will take home the gong. That little shell, and everyone involved in bringing him to life, deserve it. 

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is now showing at Broadway Cinema