The Beaver

(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.

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.

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.