Movie Review: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On | Pittsburgh Magazine

The pleasant and darling “Marcel the Shell with Footwear On” offers incontrovertible proof that heartwarming humor not solely can exist — it’s pleasant.

Many on the extra cynical and curmudgeonly aspect of issues (territory I incessantly inhabit) will let you know that comedy have to be transgressive, or not less than opposite, and can’t be delivered in an affirming bundle. But on this pretty work, which blends dwell motion and intelligent stop-motion animation, stomach laughs interrupt tears and wistful sighs. There isn’t very similar to “Marcel the Shell.”

The title character, voiced and created by the deeply underrated actress Jenny Slate, is … nicely, a shell. He’s a one-inch seashell with one eye and a pair of pink sneakers; he lives in a sequence of Lilliputian buildings inside an AirBNB together with his grandmother, Connie (Isabella Rossellini). There was a bunch of extra shells round, however they had been whisked away by accident when the previous human residents of the home went via a breakup.

An aspiring documentary filmmaker — Dean Fleischer-Camp, who directs each movie and film-within-a-film — is now staying on the AirBNB, and he decides to add a little bit of Marcel’s story to YouTube. (It is a meta second; Marcel first appeared in a 2010 quick by Fleischer-Camp, itself distributed on-line.) The world is charmed by the precocious shell, and Marcel hopes that his newfound reputation will assist him reunite together with his household.

“Marcel the Shell” is a film concerning the joys and limitations of communities, each actual and on-line. It isn’t unrealistic about both; each the potential of the web and its capability for toxicity are unflinchingly introduced, and whereas Marcel revels within the presence of others, he additionally resists fixed socializing. Few commentaries on the difficult and nuanced realities of Twenty first-century human interplay are as correct; whereas textually saying little (the script can be by Slate and Fleischer-Camp, with Nick Paley), “Marcel the Shell” reveals one thing profound.

Furthermore, although, it’s humorous. Very humorous. A lot of this is because of Slate, who isn’t solely a compelling actress however one of many funniest on the planet. Too usually relegated to supporting components and voice roles, she has a command of timing and tone that’s all however unparalleled. I’ve watched greater than sufficient star automobiles for performers who don’t have half of Slate’s talents; let’s begin casting her in every little thing, please.

I received’t get too bitter about it, although, as a result of Marcel wouldn’t need me to. As a lot as this can be a comedy, it’s an emotionally cathartic tearjerker about loss, change and maturity. For each chuckle I heard within the auditorium, there was a muffled sob. I’ll admit that I didn’t stroll into “Marcel the Shell” anticipating to be moved; I shouldn’t have been so jaded. That is no lark or cute mission; it’s merely a exceptional movie.

My Score: 9/10

“Marcel the Shell with Footwear On” is now enjoying in Pittsburgh.