Parents' Guide to

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

By Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Sweet, poignant mockumentary goes small to make big points.

Movie PG 2022 89 minutes
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Movie Poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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  • Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Movie: Scene #1
  • Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Movie: Scene #2
  • Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Movie: Scene #3

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age 7+

Based on 8 parent reviews

loveoneanother
loveoneanother Parent of 8-year-old
July 10, 2022
age 12+

New Age caution + unnecessary inappropriate references

So it's obviously a cute and thoughtful movie. I appreciate the realness of it and the slowness of it. My eight year old daughter really enjoyed the movie but I docked two stars for the inclusion of a number of inappropriate jokes / references that were completely unnecessary and not appropriate for children at all. Why include those!? They didn't add to the movie in any way. Marcel was funny and clever without them. Also did not resonate with the oneness theology / new age note that the movie ended with. Overall I'd say the movie was a bit of a let down for me and much more melancholic than I had hoped for.
cnickel
cnickel Parent of 7-year-old
July 23, 2022
age 6+

Charming and worth seeing on the big screen

Very charming. Lovely antidote to all the high-octane, nonstop action-driven kids movies being made now. This was a perfect movie to watch as a family—we all enjoyed it and got something out of it. Isabella Rossellini was especially well cast as Marcel’s grandmother. Very young children may have trouble following the story but our seven year old could keep up for the most part—and the message is clear and extremely heartwarming. One caveat—since it is a bit on the slow side, it may be better on the big screen in a theater. Then there’s no way to switch to another movie! ; )
See all 8 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (10 ):

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 how the internet can be both 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?

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