Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

The Beaver

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Strange, serious drama is alternately inspiring, appalling.

Movie PG-13 2011 91 minutes
The Beaver Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 16+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Daphi
Daphi Adult
July 10, 2012
age 18+

Dark, disappointing and dull.

(I'm 18) I just watched this movie with members of my family aged 13+, and I can't say that I would ever watch it again. At first the concept of a split personality being brought to life through a hand puppet was appealing, even charming. It was both intriguing and weird to watch as the Beaver resurfaced a spark of life that was hidden within a character who seemed to be so deeply wrapped up in depression, and used that spark to mend his relationship with his family. However, Jodie Foster seemed to have written herself into a corner once the initial plot had been introduced. Things sort of fell into an unbalanced mishmash after that, and thereafter it seemed as if Foster was trying to compensate for the lack of shock value or emotional depth by peppering the film with bad language, teen angst, violence and a few awkward sex scenes. I found myself hitting a wall any time I tried to connect with Walter emotionally because his depression seemed somewhat unrealistic, even frustrating. I won't include any spoilers in my review, but I will say that the main characters mania comes to a very bizarre pique that eventually crash lands into a gory conclusion - A conclusion that made even my thirteen-year-old brother say, "Uhhh, okay? What just happened?" This movie frustrated me, bored me, and - for lack of a better phrase - "weirded me out". If you were expecting a lighthearted, feel-good movie like I was, prepare yourself for a major disappointment.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
June 9, 2012
age 15+

Surprisingly very good!

I honestly didn't know what to expect from The Beaver, but bought it on a whim and so glad I did! It's a refreshing new take on Hollywood films, without any major violence, sex or language to worry about. A story about a depressed man who gives up on life and everyone around him...until he meets his better half "The Beaver" (kind of like a multiple personality) who is a puppet that guides him through these tough times. If you or someone you know is depressed, you can easily relate to this movie. Kids would be bored I'm sure, but mature teens and adults will most likely appreciate this film. Very watchable more than once and both Jodie & Mel did amazing.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much swearing
See all 3 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (10 ):

Foster's third movie as a director 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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: May 6, 2011
  • On DVD or streaming: August 23, 2011
  • Cast: Anton Yelchin , Jodie Foster , Mel Gibson
  • Director: Jodie Foster
  • Studio: Summit Entertainment
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 91 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: mature thematic material, some disturbing content, sexuality and language including a drug reference
  • Last updated: October 8, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate