Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021)

July 25, 2022 8:17 PM

Marcel (Jenny Slate) is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. But when a documentary filmmaker discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family.

A new A24 mockumentary based on the popular short films.

Rated 99% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

posted by DirtyOldTown (7 comments total)

This is playing in theaters in the US as of today. We're going to see it tomorrow, looks like.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:23 PM on July 25, 2022

Looking for a lint spinoff. But not the clothes dryer horror genre.
posted by sammyo at 3:40 AM on July 26, 2022

It has been in small release for a few weeks, but we saw it at an AMC theater over the weekend. There were people with small kids in the theater with us, but this would probably be pretty disappointing as kid entertainment. It's sweet and wistful and mostly a lot of talking. Isabella Rossellini was really wonderful as Marcel's grandmother, and Jenny Slate is terrific. My wife had never seen the Marcel videos on YouTube, so she came into the movie cold, but enjoyed it a lot.
posted by briank at 6:38 AM on July 26, 2022

I find the visual of Marcel really disturbing, but I gather others don’t feel this way? Like it seems like straight up body horror to me but this is not a horror thing I guess? I think this is what being old feels like.
posted by jeoc at 4:45 PM on July 26, 2022 [1 favorite]

Jeoc I'm so glad I'm not the only one who feels this way! The voice and dialogue are so cute and the plot is compelling but the visual of the snail with the one blinking eye just... um... floating in the shell opening... AHHHHH and how do the feet connect? Is there more snail bits poking through two smaller holes that somehow ooze into the shoes....omg. Maybe if it were MORE cartoony it wouldnt bother me but filmed somewhat realistically its just uncanny valley nightmare to me.
posted by silverstatue at 6:49 PM on July 26, 2022

Wistful is exactly the word I would use as well. We finally saw this yesterday.

I'd say it's almost a film for grownups who enjoy kid's movies, but not for actual kids. It's cute and funny, but it's also fragile and reflective.

There were some A+ quotable lines. Our favorite was the bit about "hardy hairs."

I found this film sort of slight and sort of unexpectedly weighty at the same time, as though it might not have the expansiveness to be the kind of film that would work for every mood, but if you're in a certain contemplative, sad-but-trying-to-be-cheerful space, it can be a marvelous tonic/salve.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:44 AM on August 3, 2022 [2 favorites]

if you're in a certain contemplative, sad-but-trying-to-be-cheerful space, it can be a marvelous tonic/salve.

wow this so perfectly describes my experience while watching this yesterday. DirtyOldTown, you have a way with words
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:23 PM on April 30, 2023 [1 favorite]