Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

 Meet Dean, everyone.

Dean has an unusual housemate in his Airbnb. His name is Marcel, a walking, talking shell. He and his Grandma Connie used to live with a community of walking, talking shells. But they all got accidentally packed up by a previous resident. Nowadays, Marcel and Connie live their lives the best they can. 

Dean uploads a series of YouTube videos starring Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. What starts with 84 views grows to over 2 million. Those fans aren't that all interested in Marcel's search. The producers of Marcel and his community's favorite show, 60 minutes, are. They want to set up an interview with Marcel and host Lesley Stahl. There may be some hope, after all. But Connie's deteriorating health is an issue.

That's the gist of it. The film was adapted from director Dean Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate's real-life YouTube videos. Camp is this film's Dean and Slate is Marcel himself. The mockumentary style shows us Marcel's daily life. Among other things, Marcel walks on walls with honey, pops popcorn by magnifying glass, uses a tennis ball for transportation and assembles gadgets with junk. He knows quite a lot about loss, but he faces the world with a child's enthusiasm. He and Connie make the most of it without arms and a decent height. Their relationship is endearing. You'll feel it when she goes.

Don't expect any explanation for how walking and talking shells exist. It's probably one of life's quirks. In actuality, the shells were brought to life with stop-motion. The animation is well-integrated into the film's live-action settings. The odd character designs will grow on you as the film goes on. Marcel's nifty innovations include a stage for him to perform in front of an audience, usually lit candles. You'll especially like his use of a tennis ball. 

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a fascinating study of a unique individual. His observations about life are delivered with a child's naivety. His quirky philosophy is highly quotable. You won't forget this little man after the film's 90 minutes are up. So, pick a streaming service (like Amazon) and stream it right away. You won't regret it.