Netflix adds movie with 98% RT score that's 'impossible not to love’ despite having ‘preposterous’ concept

If you're looking for something heartwarming to stick on that isn't festive-themed, Netflix have got you covered.

A lot of us have been binge-watching Christmas classics over the last week or so, but there can come a point when you need a change of topic.

Don't get me wrong, the likes of Home Alone, The Holiday and The Grinch never get old - but there's no harm in sticking a film on which doesn't involve the month of December.

There's plenty of lighthearted movies on Netflix which can still give you that warm and fuzzy feeling inside, even though they don't have a festive flair to them. And luckily, another one of these feel-good films has just landed on the streaming platform...and people can't stop talking about it. Take a look at the trailer here:

The 'preposterous' concept might not be your usual cup of tea, but according to viewers, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is an absolute masterpiece.

The 2021 film might be focused on the pursuit of a seaside souvenir who becomes a viral phenomenon while trying to track down his family, but it boasts a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Which is pretty good going for a one-inch-tall talking shell, don't you think?

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is both a live-action and stop-motion animated 'mockumentary' film - which is quite the mouthful. But underneath all that technical stuff, it's also a movie which has been dubbed 'impossible not to love' thanks to it's emotional plot which revolves around family and friendship.

Former couple Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp came up with the unusual character way back in 2010 and went on to produce a series of shorts about Marcel the Shell.

Interestingly, the journey which their character heads on in the 2021 film was inspired by their relationship and subsequent amicable divorce in 2016.

Reflecting on how their real-life experiences impacted the movie, Fleischer-­Camp reckons it was in 'a pretty positive way'.

Slate and Fleischer-Camp came up with the character back in 2010 (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for National Board of Review)

"Sometimes the things that might wear on a daily relationship can actually make a creative relationship much more productive and powerful," he told Screen Daily last year.

Slate also believes that their shared history lent 'layers of the unconscious in a story that doesn’t feel vague or veiled'.

"The story of Marcel is the story of Marcel, it’s not a stand-in for its creators," she added. "But our own psyches are embedded in there and it’s a nice way to work through all of it."

And this might be why people are resonating with Marcel the Shell with Shoes On so much.

Essentially, Marcel the Shell - who is voiced by Slate - lives in an Airbnb with his grandmother, Nana Connie, and his pet ball of lint named Alan.

A documentary filmmaker named Dean then ends up moving into the property after his marriage ends, and he stumbles across the unusual trio. But it's Marcel who is the star of the show - and after sharing a few clips online of the talking shell, the little guy becomes an internet sensation.

Marcel decides to try and use his new-found popularity to reunite with his long-lost family...and I'll let you find the rest out for yourself, but all I will say is - keep the Kleenex close.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On has stolen the hearts of Netflix viewers (A24)

That little shell with shoes on has had Netflix viewers glued to their TV screens since it dropped, so it's certainly worth the watch.

But make no mistake, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On was doing just fine anyway.

The movie earned a nomination at the Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature in 2023, as well as getting stellar ratings on Rotten Tomatoes since it's release.

Both critics and fans have applauded the film since it came out in 2021 - while also acknowledging the fact that a talking shell is a pretty weird protagonist.

One fan wrote: "An entirely preposterous concept, which somehow becomes one of the sweetest and most touching movies I have ever seen."

Another added: "This movie touched me on so many levels that I didn't know was possible. The beauty of the story and the message of the movie moved me so incredibly much."

And a third said: " It’s nearly impossible not to love this film. Full of heart, joy and humour! It is highly recommended."

I mean, what more do you need to hear?

Gather your loved ones and stick Marcel the Shell with Shoes On ASAP.