‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’ (2022) Review: An Endearing Look at Grief and Loneliness
Dean Fleischer-Camp’s Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is more than just about an adorable one-inch-tall shell that goes viral. It looks at how someone deals with grief and loneliness as well as the pros and cons of becoming an internet sensation. Marcel’s journey began when Fleischer-Camp first uploaded animated videos on YouTube, and Jenny Slate voiced the high-pitched, nasal voice. A tiny animated shell with one googly eye and wearing a pink shoe introduces himself as, “My name is Marcel and I’m partially a shell, as you can see from my body.” This tiny, adorable shell makes its way to the big screen and wins the hearts of the audience, and Fleischer-Camp focuses on Marcel and his grandmother, Connie (voiced by Isabella Rossellini) and documents their lives.
Marcel and Connie were part of a community of shells, however, they mysteriously disappeared after a sudden tragedy. Through a creative blend of the documentary lens and stop-motion animation, Dean (Fleischer-Camp plays the documentarian) interviews the adorable shelves about their lives inside the empty home. Marcel’s curiosity leads him to learn about the human world. When Dean starts uploading the videos on YouTube, Marcel and Connie turn into an internet sensation overnight. As they get to know each other, Marcel tells Dean that his family mysteriously disappeared one night, never to return. With the help of the internet, Marcel pleads with his fans to find his family, but they are more interested in Marcel and Connie. But their efforts to find the community of shells aren’t lost when a popular host contacts Dean and his friends to help them.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is an adorable and creative documentary that chronicles the life of a one-inch-tall shell. His humour and colourful existence bring warmth to the screen. Marcel gives a tour of his life and information about his life. He sleeps on a piece of bread, coats the bottom of his shoe with honey to climb the wall, and shows Dean that he rolls inside a tennis ball to get to places inside the house. He introduces his grandmother Connie, who lived a colourful life, fending for herself and planting vegetables by learning from the books in the library. She is a resourceful woman who can do anything, despite her ill health, which worries Marcel most of the time. Dean beautifully shows the tender perspective of Connie’s life as she takes care of her garden and bees even when these species never went along. Now their help and kindness are reciprocal, all thanks to Connie.
Combining live-action footage and stop-motion animation is a painstaking process. It requires patience and creativity, and Dean uses these skills and abilities to produce an endearing look at grief and loneliness. An unexpected joy of looking at the world differently during times of hardship makes Marcel a fascinating character. His missing parents fill a hole in his heart, and even though Connie is around, he still misses them. When Dean arrives at their home, Marcel yearns for human interaction and Connie persuades him to try things out of his comfort zone, such as being interviewed by Lesley Stahl (the host also appears in the film) for 60 Minutes. Marcel is lonely and even when he tries not to admit it himself, it’s hard for him to grasp a world without Connie. Everything around him is comfortable so it doesn’t make him feel lonely.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On has a simple plot but a character that overcomes the fear of loneliness. It’s a universal feeling that will surely resonate with viewers. During the third act, before the 60 Minutes interview begins, Connie tries to convince Marcel to take advantage of the opportunity while he is young and healthy. It’s a gentle reminder of death and loss, which threads the film together. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is an endearing look at how the people that you love and cherish might not always be in your life all the time. But once you can find a community that understands your grief, the future is not so hard.
