Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

## More information

**Marcel the Shell with Shoes On** is a 2021 American live-action animated hybrid coming-of-age mockumentary comedy film directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp who also co-wrote it with Jenny Slate and Nick Paley, based on a story the three of them created with Elisabeth Holm.

It is based on the short films of the same name created and uploaded to YouTube by Fleischer-Camp in 2010.

## Synopsis

Marcel, a 1-inch-tall shell, lives with his grandmother, Connie, the only residents of their town after their neighbors' sudden, mysterious disappearance. When discovered by a guest amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans and a new hope of reuniting with his long-lost family.

### Plot

Following the end of his marriage, documentary filmmaker Dean moves into an Airbnb and discovers Marcel, a one-inch-tall talking shell living in the home with his grandmother, Nana Connie, and Alan, his pet ball of lint.

Inspired by Marcel's whimsicality, resourcefulness, and fascination with the world, Dean begins filming Marcel's daily activities, most of which consist of gathering resources from the backyard in order to support himself and Nana Connie. Connie is wise but she has some dementia. She tends to her garden assisted by insects she has befriended. Marcel and Connie share their mutual love of *60 Minutes*and Lesley Stahl.

After Dean uploads Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (short film series)his first video about Marcel]] to YouTube, it quickly becomes a cultural phenomenon. Marcel is both flattered and overwhelmed with his newfound popularity, lamenting that his family is not around to celebrate it with him. Marcel explains to Dean that there used to be an entire community of shells on the property, including Marcel's mother, father, brother, and aunt. The shells would take shelter in a sock drawer when the house's previous owners, Mark and Larissa, started knocking objects over while fighting.

Following one fight, Mark accidentally packs the shells into his suitcase while moving out, leaving Marcel and Connie as the only ones left on the property. Dean helps Marcel produce a livestream on the internet asking for help in locating his family. The livestream gains a substantial number of viewers, but after Marcel shares his location with viewers, the house becomes a popular area for influencers. Marcel becomes dismayed after realizing most of the people who saw his videos are fans, desperate to be associated with him but largely uninterested in helping him.

The constant attention to the house quickly begins to bother Marcel, who is worried about Connie's deteriorating health. Marcel convinces Dean to drive him around the city in search of Mark's car, but is overwhelmed to discover how large and vast the world outside his house really is. Realizing that the world is too big to likely discover the car on his own, a discouraged Marcel returns home to find Connie has fallen off the top of a washing machine and cracked her shell. Marcel tends to her wounds and grows more protective of Connie.

*60 Minutes* reaches out to Marcel in the hopes of doing a cover story. Despite Dean's encouragement, Marcel is reluctant to accept the offer, concerned with what the large production crew and more attention to the house would do to Connie's health. Marcel tells Dean he will not accept the interview until Connie is fully recovered. Dean confides this information to a fast-deteriorating Connie. Wanting Marcel to live a meaningful life of his own, Connie pretends to show signs of improvement around Marcel while encouraging him to accept the interview. Despite his strong reservations, Marcel eventually agrees to the interview, believing it may help him find his family.

Connie's health continues to worsen as the day of the interview approaches. Connie and Marcel watch as the *60 Minutes* crew sets up in the living room and are starstruck upon seeing Lesley Stahl in person. Marcel and Dean both participate in the interview. Upon its completion, Marcel and Dean struggle to find Connie before realizing she died while their segment was being filmed. Marcel buries Connie in her garden and grieves her. Dean signs a lease for a new apartment.

*60 Minutes* calls Dean requesting additional filming after making new discoveries regarding the whereabouts of Larissa. The segment airs, showing that they were able to locate Larissa in Guatemala. Larissa then brings the *60 Minutes*crew to Mark's house, where she and Mark get into an argument. Marcel urges Dean and the crew to check in Mark's sock drawer, where the entire shell community is discovered. They reunite in the Airbnb with Marcel, who is able to give Connie a proper funeral. Dean moves into his new apartment and begins dating again. Reunited with his family, Marcel confides to Dean that he often finds himself going to the Laundry Room window alone, and feeling the wind blow through his shell. Marcel shows Dean the sound it produces, remarking on its beauty as he stares out the window.

## Cast

* Jenny Slate as the voice of Marcel
* Dean Fleischer Camp as Dean
* Isabella Rossellini as the voice of Nana Connie
* Rosa Salazar as Larissa Geller
* Thomas Mann as Mark Booth
* Lesley Stahl as herself
* Christina Magargle as producer
* Sarah Thyre as the voice of Catherine
* Andy Richter as the voice of Mario
* Nathan Fielder as the voice of Justin
* Jessi Klein as the voice of Judy
* Peter Bonerz as the voice of The Maestro
* Jamie Leonhart as Shell Family (voices)
* Conan O'Brien as himself
* Brian Williams as himself
* Jesse Cilio as Darwin

## Videos & Photos

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On - Official Trailer HD - A24