'Marcel The Shell With Shoes On (2010)' is a short stop-motion/ live-action hybrid in which a young shell (with shoes on) named Marcel gets interviewed for some sort of documentary. The picture is basically a series of improvised jokes that follow the same format: Marcel asks the interviewer to guess what he uses to do certain things, then gleefully reveals the often unexpected answer (an example is the revelation that he uses a man's toenails as skis). The short maintains its structure throughout its entire runtime, which does lead to a sort of repetitive feel that dampens the impact of the overall affair. Thankfully, though, the piece doesn't outstay its welcome. It's also wonderfully wholesome right the way through. Sometimes, a moment of melancholy or, even, poignant wisdom (born of innocence) slips into Marcel's monologue. This is unexpected yet effective, working well with the film's generally calm and confident demeanour. Because it doesn't pander to its target audience, it's ultimately more rewarding for everyone watching. Of course, it isn't a masterpiece. It isn't hilarious, and its repetitive nature does bring it down somewhat. It's good, don't get me wrong. It's an effectively simple affair that's actually quite heart-warming. 6/10.
