I love stop-motion animation. I have always admired the amount of planning, work and patience that goes into it (this movie took seven years to make!), and the results rarely disappoint. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On seemed like a nice, cosy movie that would melt your heart, and that would be that. But imagine my surprise when this movie did more than that. It talks about deeper things like family, a sense of connection, and the bizarre relationship documentarians have with their subjects. Yep, on top of this movie being extremely adorable, funny, charming and emotional, it gives you something to ponder. I will tip my hand early and say this is a perfect movie for me.

It would have been so easy to make this into an uplifting and “dumb” movie that won’t give you much, but it makes you feel all the right emotions. There are many of these movies across different genres that exist for one purpose only. They don’t want you to learn any lesson or think too hard about much; those films exist simply to entertain you. But Marcel the Shell with Shoes On doesn’t fall into that trap, and from the start, you can tell you are in for something more than that. Whether it’s his relationship with his grandma, the genius way he learned to use his environment to his advantage (tennis ball as a form of transport is a brilliant idea) or the unexpected snark he comes up with every once in a while, Marcel is no ordinary shell. It would be so easy to dumb him down and infantilize his character, but no, he has an edge. Throughout the film, we can tell the filmmakers wanted us to believe he lived in this world for a while, so he goes through many emotions, and how he acts is not always adorable. And that’s a good thing!

One of the best decisions was to make this film as this documentary, where it feels like we are there with him, just watching him go about his day and solving different problems. That documentary aspect also gives this movie “license” to talk about that specific aspect of this genre, where the “genuine” documentarian should never intervene or insert themselves into the story. But that creates this odd thing where we see Marcel struggle many times with some tasks, and our documentarian (Dean Fleischer Camp) could always help, but he can’t, and Marcel calls him out on that. The movie doesn’t spend too much time on this angle, but I found this fascinating, as that is why I always struggled with the few documentaries I have seen.

What I also thought was smart was that this movie showed us the difference between helping and sharing, being a fan and actually doing something productive. When Marcel goes viral, he makes a comment about how many people in the comments are saying nice stuff, but that doesn’t help him and his situation where he is still no closer to finding his family. Also, we then see many of those fans taking selfies in front of his house, just so they can say they were there. For a movie about a 1-inch shell that can talk and is looking for his lost family, those are surprising themes to comment on so openly, and I appreciated it.

But the heart of this movie is Marcel and his relationship with his grandma Connie (voiced by the legendary Isabella Rossellini), and that serves as a proxy to show us just how important family is to Marcel. Although we can tell what will happen (and you can too if you have seen any movie in your life), this film sets up everything so well that it still hurts when THAT scene happens. And without spoiling this movie too much, that is why the ending works; it feels so cathartic. I am not afraid to admit that Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is only the third movie (behind Coco (2017) and CODA (2021, my review here)) that made me cry, and it was during the end when something major happened. And although they were happy-ish tears and not as many, it still counts, and I must admit, this film hit me hard, and I enjoyed it.

I must mention Jenny Slate and her extraordinary voice performance. As someone who has known her mainly from Parks and Rec (2009 – 2015) and a couple of movies, I would have never recognised that was her. She did the voice of a five-year-old child so well that it was almost scary knowing it was her. But she makes Marcel work, and her voice is perfect for the character without being “perfect” – she nailed the mannerisms of kids and talks exactly like they would. And occasionally, she throws you a curve ball, whether it’s a snarky comment about a dog (“Every time I do this, that dog goes totally crazy. He sees something truly elegant in the sky, and this is his reaction? What a sad type of idiot.“) or that brilliant line about people being fans rather than community.

If you couldn’t tell by now, I loved this movie. I think the final “nail in the coffin” is the perfect runtime of 90 minutes (I believe it’s even less without the end credits), where this cute shell never overstays its welcome. We come in, get familiar with Marcel and his worldview, embark on this quest alongside him, and we are out, probably sobbing but still feeling like this journey was delightful and gave me things to think about on top of all the family stuff.

Overall, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a beautiful movie. It touches you on a deeper level by having the main protagonist be a literal shell that can walk and talk, but that shell has been through a lot and is forced to grow up and search for his family. And it’s this journey and all the ups and downs you will enjoy; you may cry, but most importantly, you will feel like this movie is impossible to hate. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is like the movie equivalent of a hot cup of cocoa on a fall Sunday afternoon, and you just cosied up in front of the fireplace/TV/pick your favourite Sunday afternoon activity. Simply brilliant.

That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!

Until next time,

Luke

Let’s get one thing straight – this movie is wild. It’s unhinged, all over the place tonally, and it’s definitely not what you would define as a “crowd pleaser”, as many ratings and reviews suggest. But I had fun with this movie for several reasons, the biggest one being this –Poolman told me more about Chris Pine as a person than any of his roles combined. If this is the kind of story he wanted to capture in his debut, I am intrigued and on board with whatever he does next.

I will not try to convince anybody that there is some deeper message or that this will be considered a masterpiece in 20 years. Although, I will say that the movie deals with much more than some reviews suggest. But, ultimately, no, I won’t try to convince you about anything like that, and instead, I will celebrate the quirkiness and playfulness with which Pine directs this movie. No matter what was happening on the screen, this film has a certain vibe; it doesn’t take itself seriously, and that is what won me over at the end.

On the surface, this is a clear homage to many noir movies and, of course, Chinatown (1974), which I would call a neo-noir. If I focus purely on the technical aspects of this film, it’s beautifully shot and paced well, and the costumes (mainly wardrobe for DeWanda Wise) were also on point. So when all of this adds up, this quirky story was told well on the directorial level, which makes it all the more impressive that this was Pine’s debut behind the camera. If I didn’t know that, I don’t know whether I would be able to tell because no matter what crazy or ludicrous thing was happening on the screen, I had fun, but most importantly, I felt “safe”. For lack of a better word, Pine’s direction seemed on point and given the pacing was right too, so I was never bored, never thought to myself: “I am not sure about this shot or this character.” No, everything felt right.

And again, a big part of “why” it felt right was that you could tell that, for some reason, this is what Chris Pine wanted to say with his directorial debut. This story felt weirdly personal, and despite all the craziness, the sincere moments worked for me. Poolman is one of those films I get why it wouldn’t work for many (as it currently has 4.1/10 on IMDb) because it is an unhinged film that you either vibe with, or not. Those films can also be a hit or miss for me as well, but given the pacing and reasonable runtime, I found myself enjoying this. I also gather that Pine doesn’t take himself too seriously, and he would be a fun chat.

The other big reason I enjoyed this film was the spectacular cast. Everyone from Jennifer Jason Leigh, Danny DeVito, Annette Bening, Ray Wise and John Ortiz was great and fun in their respective roles, and they each had a moment to shine. But if there were one person Pine won the lottery with, it would be already mentioned DeWanda Wise. She portrays the femme fatale, and even though you understand her purpose/endgame (given it’s a nod to noir movies), I was still mesmerised by her. From her piercing eyes to her wardrobe (every wardrobe change was like a new runway moment for her, as she looked amazing in everything) to how she portrayed her character, it was pristine. Also, she shines here much more than in what was supposed to be her breakthrough, Jurassic World: Dominion (2022, my review here), and I will remember her much more from this film than from that catastrophe. What I am trying to say is that she should be a much bigger name, and I hope we get to see her in more mainstream and better movies than Jurassic World.

Despite everything, I don’t know whether I would recommend this film as firstly I need to rewatch it to make sure I am not missing anything. But most importantly, it is “a bit” an all-over-the-place movie, especially with the tonal shifts Poolman goes through; it’s hard to recommend it to the general masses. However, if you are like me and like when directors take big swings and create something that tells you more about how they see the world, and by the end of it, you feel like you understand them more as people, then I would recommend this movie. Just brace yourself for some quirkiness.

Overall, Poolman is the vibe movie I didn’t know I needed. I appreciate Chris Pine as an actor, but now I hope he gets more chances to direct because even if this isn’t a perfect movie, it intrigued me enough and now I want to see more of what Pine will do. Give him some money and let him cook, as the young people say, as this was something that hit me just right. And I will always support original films over any sequel, remake, or universe-building movie. Yes, I enjoy those films too, and they have their place, but nothing beats seeing a new, fresh perspective on stuff, and by the looks of it, Pine has that. I hope to see more.

That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!

Until next time,

Luke

When you talk about movies online and listen to/read other movie fans, you notice how some movies get mentioned more often than others. About Time was one of those films where it seemed like everyone but I had seen it already, and what’s more, they loved it. I knew the film’s premise, and I had the ending unintentionally spoiled for me as well. So maybe that is why it’s been on my watchlist forever. Well, when your girlfriend wants to watch a good rom-com, and you want to watch something you haven’t seen yet, this came to mind, and despite all I knew about this film, it still delivered. I would even say it surpassed my already high expectations; it is THAT good.

What I loved the most was the key ideas (cherish the time with your loved ones, and it’s only up to you how you tackle each day) aren’t anything new or groundbreaking. On paper, it feels like a bad/cheesy motivational poster. That is where the pedigree comes in in the form of the talent in front of the camera (Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy and Lydia Wilson are arguably the most important characters) and behind it (Richard Curtis). Let me start with the man in charge, Richard Curtis.

I think I can safely write that there aren’t many others who understand the rom-com genre as well as he does. He’s mostly a screenwriter who has written or co-written over 70 movies, so naturally, there will be some average movies, too. But he only directed three features – this one, Love Actually (2003) and The Boat That Rocked (2009). A side note – if you haven’t seen The Boat That Rocked, stop everything and watch it; it’s such a great movie, and I don’t think it gets talked about enough. Anyway, these are all the movies he directed and what a resume. I think the reason I gravitate towards his films is the realness. The characters in all his movies frequently deal with love, sex, and life, but often in a relatable, awkward way. He understands that for us to feel something, he needs to make us fall in love with those characters, and he does it effortlessly. But, most importantly, all the main characters feel like people, not like we are watching Hollywood celebrities trying to be relatable. Sure, Rachel McAdams was a big name even in 2013, but About Time plays into her “girl next door” vibe, and that is why the contrast between her and someone like Margot Robbie worked because the movie (or rather the characters in it) point out how insanely stunning Margot is, so next to her, even someone as gorgeous as Rachel McAdams looks almost “generic”, despite the simple fact she isn’t. His style almost feels like he knows how to “turn down” the “rom-com” element and does it in a more subtle way, where the ending to his films always hits you.

Take me, for example. I knew THAT moment towards the end was coming; I was getting myself ready for it, but when it finally played out, I almost cried because the movie had earned my trust by then, and I loved all the characters. I won’t spoil anything, but you know what I am talking about if you have seen the movie. And that character work goes to the screenplay (Curtis again!) and the actors. Domhnall Gleeson has always been a great actor, and in this film, he simply confirms it as he plays the awkward yet charming character perfectly. When the movie started, I wasn’t sure whether I could see what women in this film did, but after a few scenes, I saw it too; his charm and charisma made it hard not to like/love him. Bill Nighy plays a dad everyone should have, or if you are like me, you wish you would have had. You can argue this movie is more of a father/son family film rather than a romantic comedy, and it would make sense to me. I also loved Lydia Wilson as her Kit Kat (what a fun nickname) was this bittersweet reminder of someone who tries to be happy but can’t.

However, I need to give a special shoutout to Rachel McAdams. She’s been a great actress for over two decades and is still not getting enough recognition because she has done mostly comedies and romantic comedies. I think there’s still the prejudice against this genre and how “easy” these movies are to do/be in. And sure, whilst you can find questionable acting performances in many of those movies, Rachel has always delivered. Even in this movie, I knew she was this cool actress, but she convinced me she was this dorky girl who loves this awkward guy. When I was watching About Time, I forgot that I was watching Rachel and instead believed there was a girl called Mary in London like her. My point is that Rachel McAdams is criminally underrated and deserves more praise and projects that would allow her to do whatever she wants.

The sign of a great movie, at least to me, is when the movie finishes and you still want to be in that world. When the movie is over, and you are thinking about the themes, story, and characters, you can tell how almost nothing (maybe besides that time-travelling element) was that groundbreaking, and yet, you want to rewatch that film again. Because movies aren’t just one thing. A mix of a couple of words filmed and then thrown on the screen. The great ones use everything in their toolbox to “lure you in”, and once they have you firmly in their grasp that is when they make you feel everything. About Time did that to me several times, and each time, I loved it. I can’t wait to rewatch it again.

Overall, About Time surpassed my high expectations and delivered one of the best rom-coms mixed with a great story about father and son with a unique quirk of time travel. Something that, on paper, doesn’t seem like it should work and mesh together as well, but it does. I don’t know if this is a heresy to write this, but this is my favourite Curtis movie. I think for many fans, it’s Love Actually, but for me, only on the strength of one viewing, it must be this film. If you are like me and haven’t watched this one yet, I can’t recommend it more highly.

That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!

Until next time,

Luke

I can’t lie; when I agreed to watch this movie (Happy Girlfriend, Happy Life); I wasn’t expecting much due to the generic title and even more generic-looking trailer. I had hoped that at least Anne Hathaway (who refuses to age and looks as stunning as ever) would keep my attention. Not only did she do that, but she reminded me why I could never hate her, as she gives everything to this film, and without her, The Idea of You would become “just another” rom-com.

And sure enough, this film starts as your generic rom-com – divorced parents, a dead-beat dad who breaks all the promises and a mum who must pull her weight to make up for him… Not breaking any new ground here. However, if we put Anne’s performance aside for a second, the film quickly devolves into something more intriguing. It has many things to say about celebrity lifestyle, relationships with a significant age gap and how the Internet (respectively, obsessive fans on the Internet) can shout everything at you without thinking about the fact that they are not screaming at the wall but at a person on the other side of that smartphone. And, as it is in the case of Anne’s character, that person is a “civilian” who didn’t knowingly sign up for this shit.

This discourse happens mainly in the second half. Therefore, for us to be in this until that happens, we must be pulled into the movie by the performances. I thought Nicholas Galitzine was fine. Despite him being the second lead, his character wasn’t as interesting to me, but I thought he did the best he could with it. But as I mentioned above, this is Anne Hathaway’s one-woman show. There were at least three separate moments she showed such sincerity and understanding for her character; I was in this movie because of her. I believed her every word, and she yet again proved that she was a great actress and should be a leading lady for some time to come. There are many great actresses, but I can’t think of anyone I would rather see in this role as Anne made it her own.

The second half, when we delve deeper into the double standard of older woman/younger man relationship and how society still treats it… let’s say poorly, was something I didn’t expect from a rom-com like this one. Especially, how this movie treats this topic with the nuance it deserves, rather than coming off as preachy. The more I thought about this film afterwards, the more I managed to convince myself that The Idea of You has a chance of becoming a classic of this genre and in 10/15 years, people will still remember this movie. Only time will tell, but I would honestly not be surprised.

The only thing (except for the rocky beginning) I had an issue with was the ending, and I mean the last few minutes. Without going into spoilers, the movie does everything to end, and then, it decides not to do that and adds something that feels very Hollywood-y. From what I understand, the book ends where the film logically should have ended, so the end is on the filmmakers, and although I understand why they thought they had to do it, I wish they hadn’t. I don’t want to write anything more, but once you see it, you will know what I mean.

Besides those few things, though, I enjoyed The Idea of You much more than I thought I would. This film is paced well; I was never bored, the movie addresses a few important issues we deal with nowadays, but, most importantly, Anne Hathaway carries it on her shoulders and makes it into something much better than it had any right to be. Even if you are not into rom-coms, I think it’s worth watching this one for her performance alone to see how I wish more actors approached rom-coms.

Overall, The Idea of You surprised and entertained me with little to no cringe, which is rare for modern-day rom-coms. It has a reasonable runtime, young hot people doing young hot things (like travelling across multiple countries and living their lives), but, most importantly, it has Anne Hathaway reminding you why she has been a star for over two decades and counting. Quite honestly, I didn’t think I would recommend it, but I am recommending this film because, as far as rom-coms go, you can do much worse.

That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!

Until next time,

Luke