Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: gentle, philosophical comfort in mock-doc form

Small is not easy. All things are out of reach. It’s hard to see over bigger people and things. It’s important to participate in meaningful conversations. The A24 film is a quirky one. Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, writer-director Dean Fleischer-Camp remembers what it’s like to be small better than most big people do. He, his co-writers Elisabeth Holm, Nick Paley and Jenny Slate, remind audiences about their childhood experiences. They bring a sense to humor and perspective only possible from having lived in the vast, wide world.

Marcel (Jenny Slate), is a one-inch tall shell, wearing shoes and sporting a smile. He may even be a child. (He sounds like one, but his age is never revealed, and shells “don’t do the clock like you do,” as Marcel explains at one point.) He lives with his grandmother Connie (Isabella Rossellini), an affectionate gardener who moved to the home from her garage. She is from faraway origins which explains her accent. Their tiny size means they can survive on dried raisins and water drops from the bathroom tap. They are able to persevere through any challenges and still have grace. They love to watch “The Simpsons”.60 minutesThe couple watch a television in the neighboring home and sit on a couch made of a Hoagie Roll.

Image: A24

Many “changings of the trees” ago, Connie and Marcel were part of a thriving community of pocket-sized individuals that also included Marcel’s mom, Catherine (Sarah Thyre), and dad, Mario (Andy Richter), as well as pretzels, pieces of cereal, pistachio shells, and a tampon with the face of a ghost. Most of the group was taken in by the couple who once lived at their home and were then moved in a suitcase. Marcel and Connie were left to their own devices to make it through the aftermath of this tragedy. Through the clever use of electric mixers and tennis balls, they were able to survive.

Now the house is a “computer hotel,” as Marcel calls Airbnb. Dean Fleischer-Camp (who also directed viral YouTube videos which first introduced Marcel to the rest of the world in 2010) now lives there. Unlike most of the temporary residents, Dean actually notices Marcel and Connie, and he persuades them to star in a documentary about their lives — a project Marcel explains to Connie as “a movie where nobody has any lines, and nobody knows what it’s about while they’re making it.” Dean is staying in the house because he and his wife recently separated, and he doesn’t really want to talk about it. This annoys Marcel, who astutely notes that Dean might be happier if he “took the time to connect with people and not just make videos about it.”

Saying casually profound things in a charmingly direct way is kind of Marcel’s thing. Marcel the Shell With Shoes OnMarcel makes simple and off-kilter observations on the people, places, and events around him. This gives Marcel a tremendous amount of mileage. Considering that the original Marcel videos clocked in at less than 12 minutes total, it’s a testament to the script’s strengths that the feature-length version of his schtick never gets old. Although the film’s length is a bit short at 89 minutes it still holds its own. The dramatic arc of this magical-realist comedy is gentle: Dean’s YouTube videos about Marcel bring them viral fame, which excites and frightens them both. They are also tender and friendly.

Image: A24

Marcel has his moments of sadness. Dean asks Marcel to talk about the loss of his family. Marcel then describes how it seems like the sun always shines more brightly the next day. Marcel recalls thinking, “If I were somebody else, I would really be enjoying this,” looking out at a beautiful summer morning — a thought that’s occurred to many people, big and small, who are immersed in depression and/or grief. Typical of the film’s skewed, sweet sense of humor, Marcel marks a loss with an a cappella version of “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by the Eagles, which Slate sings in a reedy, childlike voice that’s surprisingly affecting.

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On has the soothing, reassuring quality of Studio Ghibli’s mildest output, dealing with death and responsibility in a manner that recalls Hayao Miyazaki’s all-time classic My Neighbor Totoro. Marcel and Dean discover courage, taking risks, and the importance of allowing yourself to learn from others. All of these are important lessons for children and should be reminded to adults every now and again. Future generations will also be educated by the film. 60 minutes reporter Lesley Stahl, who’s good-natured enough to show up for a small cameo. Marcel is a great example of that.

Marcel the Shell With Shoes OnOn June 24, the film will be released in theatres.