MOVIE REVIEW: MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON

 

Marcel is an adorable, 1-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother, Connie, and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. However, when a documentary filmmaker discovers them, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope of finding his long-lost family.

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Cast: Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer Camp, Rosa Salazar, Thomas Mann, Isabella Rossellin

Release Date: June 24, 2022

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Rated PG for some suggestive material and thematic elements

Runtime: 1h 30m

Review:

Marcel the Shell with Shoes on is a wildly imaginative stop  motion film that has a heartfelt authenticity that's hard to find.  Dean Fleischer Camp's mockumentary has a fairy simple relying more on the charm of its central character and his sweet, life affirming worldview.  Jenny Slate, who cocreated the character with Camp, delivers a touching and surprisingly nuanced performance as Marcel.  Slate voicework makes the entire film work but imbuing the fanciful character feel real and believable.  Isabella Rossellin serves as the her main costar, together they make a fascinating family unit as they explore topics of isolation and self discovery.  Its a real testament to the script and performances that the film is sneakily moving and poignant while being incredibly accessible to everyone.  Marcel the Shell with Shoes is the type of original film that comes out of nowhere and surprises at every turn reminding you some films don't have to big events to leave a lasting impact.  

A

MOVIE REVIEW: HALLOWEEN KILLS

 

The nightmare isn't over as unstoppable killer Michael Myers escapes from Laurie Strode's trap to continue his ritual bloodbath. Injured and taken to the hospital, Laurie fights through the pain as she inspires residents of Haddonfield, Ill., to rise up against Myers. Taking matters into their own hands, the Strode women and other survivors form a vigilante mob to hunt down Michael and end his reign of terror once and for all.

Director: David Gordon Green

Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, James Jude Courtney, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Anthony Michael Hall, Thomas Mann

Release Date: October 15, 2021

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, grisly images, language and some drug use

Runtime: 1h 45min

Review:

Halloween Kills is a strange unfocused follow up to a 2018 refresh.  David Gordon Green’s film is tonally all over the place with it going for goofy laughs in large swaths before switching back to more standard horror tension.  It’s gorier than its immediate predecessor but there are only a handful of truly tense moments that result in real scares.  Jamie Lee Curtis is mostly sidelined for the majority of the film leaving supporting characters like Anthony Michael Hall and Andi Matichak carrying the majority of the film.  Hall, playing a grown Tommy from the original film, delivers an overblown performance that never nails the generational trauma that he’s supposed to represent.  Other legacy actors appear but are given painfully little depth and are asked to make the stupidest decisions possible.  Andi Matichak is terribly bland which leaves her scenes coming off as generally disinteresting regardless of what’s going on.  Judy Greer, on the other hand, makes the best of her scenes as she provides the only noticeable energy on screen. The story attempts to deliver a bigger message more meaningful message but it fumbles it badly leaving it unfocused.  Halloween Kills ends up feeling incomplete and unfinished which is a shocking downgrade from 2018 refresh.  

D