By no means should my low rating mean I don’t think you should see this flick. That rating reflects the views of a monster, a totally inhuman thing who pulls puppy dog tales. I’m wrong. I know I’m wrong.

I get that this Marcel character is gentle, sweet, and wise beyond his years, size, and species. I get that he’s funny because shells with shoes say the darndest things. I get that its heartfelt and meaningful. That its warm and cozy.

I just couldn’t connect with it. I laughed on occasion but I spent the whole movie thinking, “I get this film’s angle. I see what it’s doing. But I don’t care.” And, yes, there’s the occasional moving moment and it can be quite clever. And the stop-motion filmmaking is neat.

But that’s all academic. This movie bounced off me on an emotional level and I think those are where it lives. It’s what makes people want to hug the movie. But I’m a monster. I pull puppy dog tales and I dislike Marcel the Shell with Shoes on.

But you should see it.

Score: 68