Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is available in the UK on BBC iPlayer right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Jenny Slate leads a cast with real comic timing. Available now on BBC iPlayer — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On earns its spot. The jokes in Marcel the Shell with Shoes On land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Marcel is an adorable one-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. When a documentarian discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, his resulting short film brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family. Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer Camp lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2022. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Jenny Slate is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.