Marcel the Shell With Shoes On (2021)

IMDb plot summary: Feature adaptation of the animated short film interviewing a mollusk named Marcel.

Directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp. Starring Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer-Camp, and Isabella Rossellini.

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On is a full-length version of the 2010 viral short film of the same name, starring the voice of Jenny Slate as a curious, philosophical little shell named Marcel, who has shoes and a face. In this story, Marcel and his Nana Connie live together in the house where they used to live with a larger community of shells, who were accidentally taken out of the house when one of the former occupants moved out. We follow them and their documentarian, Dean, as they go about their days in the house. Marcel was a viral sensation when the short video was released, and watching this reminded me why. He's a truly charming character, simultaneously bold and shy in an incredibly relatable way, and of course the design of these characters is adorable. The film does exactly what it should: just lets this character be this character. Even as the plot gets a little thicker and we have a more serious narrative arc playing out, there are still so many moments of just watching Marcel interact with his world, and that makes the more emotionally poignant moments really land. This was a delightful surprise, and I found myself very taken with this film.

How it entered my Flickchart:

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On > Hairspray (1988)

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On > The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On < Castle in the Sky

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On < Jeopardy (1953)

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On > Kismet

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On > Red Carpet

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On < Come from Away

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On > The Joy Luck Club

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On > 9

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On > Mildred Pierce

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On > The Incredibles

Final spot: #721 out of 3687, or 80%.