Tag: Jenny Slate

Marcel the Shell, Only The Lonely

Marcel the Shell is a sweet coming of age story about how to enjoy life at its fullest, any way the wind blows.   

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Coming to theatres beginning July 15, 2022

Marcel the Shell is lonely, and as for where his family went, nobody knows. They were taken away when the last human occupants of their home parted ways. It was by accident, and he doesn’t hold ill will, but not even Dean, his new human friend, can help. When this man discovers this strange Fraggle Rock world after he moves in that abode, his reaction is to be kind and film his life as he takes each day as it comes.

Jenny Slate is marvellous as the voice of this chitin. I found her voice brings a sense of wonder and innocence not too different from how other children go wow when discovering the world.

As for whether a slug exists inside the shell, I’m fairly sure there’s nothing. He’s as alive as those black soots from My Neighbour Totoro and I liken him to a fairy. Plus, I’m willing to say that this stop-motion and live action film by Dean Fleischer-Camp (who also co-stars) owes a small debt to this Studio Ghibli film. He found a home that’s very rustic.

Continue reading “Marcel the Shell, Only The Lonely”

All Good Things Does Not Come in 3 in Despicable Me

despicableme3teaserposterBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

The heart of the Despicable Me franchise lies in how to tame the ruthless heart of Gru (voiced by Steve Carell). He’s an eccentric misanthrope who learns the value of community. The first film sees him take advantage of others to further his own gains (until the children he adopts win his heart), and the second movie sees him trying to settle into a parental role. The third film sees him managing the family. He’s married, and the struggles is more with him accepting who he is now.

The children Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Grier) and Agnes (Nev Scharrel) do not play an important role in this outing. They are merely there to remind audiences that Gru is a family man. He’s happily married to Lucy (Kristen Wiig), but after losing their job at the Anti-Villain League (AVL) after a botched attempt to prevent Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker) from stealing a huge diamond, just what’s next requires him to evaluate what can he do next? This turn of events has Mel (the leader of the Minions) unhappy and Dru (Gru’s long-lost twin brother) trying to convince him to return to a life of crime.

Continue reading “All Good Things Does Not Come in 3 in Despicable Me”

Zootopia Shows a Lot of ♥ for a Great Detective Story!

Zootopia

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Buried in Disney’s Zootopia is plenty of charm. This world is built on trust and Charles Darwin‘s On the Origin of Species. A long, long time ago, the fauna evolved to stand on two legs and develop civilization. Through some means that we are not meant to know, they have become human. Unlike LEGO Legends of Chima, evolution came magically and the legend beasts are those who chose to remain in their primal form. This movie nicely looks at a growing problem in the metropolis: a handful of people are going missing and the reasons why are not clear. This movie is surprising by not putting in an Olivia Flaversham (The Great Mouse Detective) cameo.

Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) is an idealistic bunny who dreams of making a difference. From an early age, she wanted to be a cop. Despite a few difficulties in size and standing out in Police Academy, she manages to be top of her class. By the time she gets her first duty at Zootopia Police Department, she gets assigned meter-maid duty. Police Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), a cape buffalo, does not think she is capable for other work. When a pleading Otter comes knocking at Bogo’s door and Officer Hopps is present to represent the sympathetic arm of the force, he reluctantly allows this rookie to turn detective, or face being fired.

Continue reading “Zootopia Shows a Lot of ♥ for a Great Detective Story!”

%d bloggers like this: