There is an Aardman quality to MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON. It is free, easy going and meditates on more than the immediate conflicts in its characters life. Both of these are revealing and relatable. So is Marcel. He is a 1-inch-tall shell, who lives with his grandmother, Connie (voiced with grace by Isabella Rossellini). They live in a house that has become an Air B n B that is housing film maker Dean (the co creator Dean Fleischer Camp). Their story works like this. This house is their home and it housed their town. However, after their neighbors all mysteriously disappeared, well its just them. Dean created a series of short film, that he posts online, to find the now lost neighbours and low and behold, the world goes crazy. Millions of passionate fans turn up, some for fame but others, in the hope of reuniting the long-lost shells.

The short films of MARCEL THE SHELL WITH THE SHOES ON delighted millions. They were seemingly a sensation that rewarded multiple watches. They are also missing from this disc sadly, so (checks internet), you will need to see these if you love the film on your watch. Also there is for some reason, no extra content on the disc. Sad. This said, the film has so much to reward it and so stands alone as a wonderous diversion from the slate of sequel fodder that will hit our screens and thankfully I will avoid. I disagreed with JLG on his comments that you should see everything. Blockbusters, art house, experimental. No. You should watch what draws you to it. I do not get aroused by seeing ever more things blowing up.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH THE SHOES ON is an easy, mindful watch. I found I could breathe easy and think freely. There is much to love in its slow, gentle steps. Its soft around the middle. Warm. The demands are for slights of emotion. Touching sentiment. You pick up things and are not forced to take a crowbar to them being forced down. You get reserve and are drawn to the humility of a family that is modern, strange and wonderful. It was odd because I saw a little bit of the great modern British film makers in it. There is like a Stephen Poliakoff feel to its emotional intensity. Asking the audience to do so engagement but without making less rewarding because it is softer. Marcel ponders, with a level of intimate clarity, humanity and range that you never expect from a shell. You might have noticed that in the tags for socials on this, I have mentioned philosophy. That is how I combined all of these themes. The whole work is philosophical.