 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Beaver
- Review Date: May 1, 2011
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Strange, serious drama is alternately inspiring, appalling.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie about a troubled family (which stars Mel Gibson and was directed by Jodie Foster) is a very strange drama with some comedy elements; it's disturbing in many ways, and while some will find it appalling, others may find it inspiring. A despondent character attempts suicide, and there's a constant, simmering sense of discontent, as well as some moments of fighting and violence. Language includes "s--t," one "f--k," and other words; there's also some teen flirting and minor sex scenes between a husband and a wife. There's one intense scene of drinking, plus prescription drugs and a mention of a teen buying "weed."
What's the story?
Walter Black (Mel Gibson) is a business executive and a family man who suffers from crippling depression. His wife, Meredith (Jodie Foster), and older son, Porter (Anton Yelchin), eventually give up on him, and he makes a failed attempt at suicide. But then a plush beaver hand puppet he finds in the trash begins "talking" to him and giving him a means to cope. The beaver allows Walter to reconnect with his younger son, Henry (Riley Thomas Stewart), and helps him succeed at his job. Meanwhile, Porter struggles to break away from his father's influence, using his brains to write black market papers for his fellow high school students, but things go topsy-turvy when pretty valedictorian Norah (Jennifer Lawrence) comes into his life. However, it's not long before everything comes to a head...
Is it any good?
Foster's third movie as a director (after Little Man Tate and Home for the Holidays) is nothing if not brave, though what exactly it wants to say and whether it finds the right tone are up for debate. The idea of Gibson -- who, in recent years, has come across in the media as more than a little nutty -- playing a serious character with a talking hand puppet could have been either appealingly outrageous or totally disastrous. But instead the movie comes across as rather safe and sober, with misplaced attempts at humor.
Other characters' reactions to Walter's problem are troublesome, and the media phenomenon behind a successful toy woodcarving kit -- conjured up by the beaver -- rings both totally false and somewhat naive. Oddly, the subplot about Walter's teen son and his quirky relationship with a sad valedictorian is far more compelling than the showier, creepier "beaver" section of the story. Overall, the movie feels like an unbalanced misfire.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the movie portrays family relationships. Is this a typical movie family? Do the characters and their interactions seem believable? Relatable?
At the height of his depression, Walter drinks lots of alcohol. How does it affect him? What are the real-life consequences of drinking?
Did you find the beaver funny or disturbing? Does he help Walter, or does he send Walter down another wrong path?
What do you think the movie's ultimate take-away is? What audience is it intended to appeal to?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
i loved this movie!
this movie about a troubled family (which stars Mel Gibson and was directed by Jodie Foster) is a very strange drama with some comedy elements; it's disturbing in many ways, and while some will find it appalling, others may find it inspiring. A despondent character attempts suicide, and there's a constant, simmering sense of discontent, as well as some moments of fighting and violence. Language includes "s--t," one "f--k," and other words; there's also some teen flirting and minor sex scenes between a husband and a wife. There's one intense scene of drinking, plus prescription drugs and a mention of a teen buying "weed."
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AGE
A Stupid,And Dark Movie
I Have Eight Words For You Parents:"Stupidest Movie I Have Seen In My Life."This Movie Is So Dark,And Just Plain Stupid.Although Mel Gibson Did A Good Role.Jodie Foster Should Not Of Directed And Should Have Took Some Advice By Mel Gibson's Point Of View.
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AGE
Disappointing drama with fine performances.
Mel Gibson gives an excellent performance in Jodie Foster's otherwise overwhelmingly disjointed and emotionally confused character drama about a depressed man living through a puppet. As an acting-driven film, "The Beaver" does work really well at points, and there are even some witty moments and a couple of heart-wrenching scenes, but it all ultimately devolves into unsettling darkness and misdirected hell when the third act begins.
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AGE
Terry Gross Sparkles in a Terrible Movie
Terry Gross sparkles! Best line of the movie. The end of The Beaver is very disturbing.
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AGE
Depressing yet powerfull and smart.
I really dont agree with the review my dad and i watched this and we think its very good, its a somewhat dark but compelling story about a troubled man, teens can handle it.
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AGE
I'm the Beaver, And I'm Here to Save Your Life
I actually thought that this was a really good movie. That said, the content was bad in all three major categories. Several sexual scenes (between a married couple, but still suggestive) that involve upper back nudity. Quite a bit of cursing including the f-word. And let's not get started about what Mel Gibson does to himself by the end of this movie. Let's just say that it isn't pretty. This interesting little film is like Harvey meets The Shining. The acting is good, the humor fresh, and still manages to include poignant messages. SUMMARY: Dark film alternates between humor and drama. Not for kids, but older teens may find it diverting.
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| Studio: | Summit Entertainment |
| Director: | Jodie Foster |
| Cast: | Anton Yelchin, Jodie Foster, Mel Gibson |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 91 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 6, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | August 23, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | mature thematic material, some disturbing content, sexuality and language including a drug reference |
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