Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
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Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a sweet, poignant live-action/animated mockumentary based on the popular short films about a one-inch-tall anthropomorphic shell named Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate) that gained popularity on YouTube in the early 2010s. The story follows Marcel's quest to find his long-lost family with the help of a human filmmaker. Characters deal with loss and express their grief; the shells face everyday perils like animals, heights, and feet; and Marcel packs weapons (a nail and a match) when heading out into the world. But overall this is a very mild, gentle film with strong messages about the importance of family, doing the right thing even when it's hard, and the transformative power of friendship. Language is limited to rare exclamations like "dang it" and "oh my God," there's a kissing reference, and a cork pops during a celebration. While the content is appropriate even for young elementary schoolers, the film's intentionally calm pace and focus on talk over action make it a better fit for tweens and up.
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What's the Story?
MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON tells the story of a tiny anthropomorphic shell named Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate) who lives with his grandmother, Nana Connie (Isabella Rossellini), in a suburban house used as an Airbnb. It's been just the two of them since their large shell family mysteriously disappeared two years before. As Marcel gets to know documentary filmmaker Dean Fleischer-Camp, who's staying in the house while dealing with his own personal drama, the little shell inspires Fleischer-Camp to post videos to YouTube of Marcel going about his everyday life. A fandom is spawned, and eventually Marcel's story reaches the ears of those who might actually be able to help him figure out what happened to his family.
Is It Any Good?
Sweet, poignant, and funny -- but also intentionally calm and thoughtful -- this movie about a tiny shell's unique perspective on life will have you looking at your own surroundings in new ways. Based on a popular series of YouTube videos from the early 2010s, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a stop-motion labor of love that took more than six years for Slate and Fleischer-Camp to make. And while fans of the original videos will appreciate the callbacks to jokes about things like Marcel using toenails for skis, there's so much more in this longer version of Marcel's story. The care that clearly went into creating Marcel and his world is evident in every scene, from his tiny honey footprints on the walls (the honey helps him stick) to the elaborate systems he sets up to gather food and move around his house.
While Marcel's journey to find his family feels huge and intimidating to him, it's important to remember that all of this is happening on shell scale. Young kids or those expecting action and adventure may find their attention wandering while Marcel putters around his house and decides what to do. But for those who are able to focus on this tiny hero and what he learns about family, friendship, and taking necessary risks, this lovely little film will have a big impact.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the techniques used to make Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. How do you think the filmmakers made Marcel move? Talk? How long do you think it took to complete the film?
What does Marcel learn over the course of the movie? How does Nana Connie help him grow and take risks? What kind of risks are positive to take in life?
Marcel's story shows both how the internet can be helpful (creating connections) and harmful (loss of personal space/privacy). What do you like and dislike about online life?
How does the movie handle loss and grief? Did any parts make you sad? Were you expecting that?
What audience do you think this movie was made for? How can you tell?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 24, 2022
- Cast: Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer-Camp, Isabella Rossellini
- Director: Dean Fleischer-Camp
- Studio: A24
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship
- Character Strengths: Courage, Gratitude, Perseverance
- Run time: 89 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: some suggestive material and thematic elements
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: June 28, 2022
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