A One Mann’s Movies review of “Hundreds of Beavers” (2024).
No, this is not the biopic of Leo DiCaprio we’ve all been waiting for (LOL)! “Hundreds of Beavers”, made for just $150,000 takes us back to the inventive era when virtually all you needed on screen were pictures without sound to make you laugh. And laugh it certainly made me do.
I’ll often complain that films are not innovative enough…. that they follow a traditional, cookie-cutter approach churning out multiple variants on a theme. To counter that, I’ve seen two films in the last 48 hours that really break the mould. “Hundreds of Beavers” is one of them. The other (review to follow) is “Here”. They make you really value those filmmakers willing to stick their neck out a bit.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“Hundreds of Beavers” Plot Summary:
Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) is destitute when beavers destroy his Applejack cider distillery – his pride and joy. When winter comes, he takes to the woods to make his fortune as a trapper. But without the necessary skills, how will he ever make any money and win the hand of the Furrier (Olivia Graves), daughter of the fierce outpost trader (Doug Mancheski)?
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Moderate sex references, comic violence”.)
Talent:
Starring: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Doug Mancheski, Olivia Graves, Wes Tank, Luis Rico.
Directed by: Mike Cheslik.
Written by: Mike Cheslik & Ryland Brickson Cole Tews.
Running Time: 1h 48m.
“Hundreds of Beavers” Summary:
Positives:
- Clever and innovative use of simple green-screen effects.
- Some truly hilarious sight gags.
- Clever musical tributes to genres being riffed on.
Negatives:
- Not all of the gags land.
- Even at 108 minutes, it outstayed its welcome a tad for me.
Review of “Hundreds of Beavers”:
WTF?
When you start watching this ridiculous movie you start to wonder what you’ve got yourself into. The manic cartoon-like action, the out-there graphic style and the ‘Applejack’ lumberjack-type song. I thought, “hmm… I’m not sure I’m going to last 10 minutes with this”. But then, you get into the style of the comedy and when we hit the frozen wastes of northern Wisconsin you are hooked on seeing what hilarious gag is going to be presented next. (So, if you start watching this film, the message is stick with it…. at least for about 30 minutes… then if the comedy is not for you, it’s not for you!)
Gags come thick and fast.
This is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Sequences are filmed in a shonky way in front of green screens interposed with either animated sequences or live footage from the (very cold looking) icy wastes. If the delivery seems amateurish (the film was made for just $150,000) the jokes are very funny indeed, like nothing you find in so called (big-budget) comedies. There is a level of innovation employed and sets of running gags (the aggressive woodpecker; the spitoon, etc.) that was (mostly) hilarious. It smashed the 6-laughs test and then some.
In particular, the violence meted out to Jean’s animal victims is hilarious. And in case you are asking “Is this film suitable for my older pre-teen kids to watch?”, I would say “Yes indeedy”. For I should add that the ‘animals’ in this are cast members dressed up in dodgy animal costumes! The “moderate sex references” that the BBFC refers to amount to the (very fetching) Olivia Graves performing an underwear pole dance in one sequence and some snowbound tit and cock gags that are of the level probably emulated in most snowy junior school playgrounds around the world.
A tribute to the silent greats.
What comes across to you is the huge amount of love put into this film. Cheslik and Tews are clearly Cinephiles who love the old silent greats of Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. This is perhaps most typified in this film by the presence of Olivia Graves as the furrier. Her style and make-up makes her instantly recognisable as one of Chaplin’s leading ladies.
A Raiders fan?
The film is pretty much silent, but it is accompanied by suitable sound effects and a music soundtrack that befits what is effectively a tribute to the silent era. But the music is wry and very clever. As well as some catchy tunes, some of the music harks back, in a tribute sort of way, to other genres. For example, it is surely no coincidence that in the scenes where Jean is creeping through the subterranean lair of the wolves, the music cleverly conjures the essence of John Williams’s “In the Idol’s Temple” themes from “Raiders of the Lost Ark“! And when Jean does a secret raid on the beaver’s Lodge, is there a hint of Bond style music from the finale of “No Time To Die“?
I was astonished to find that the soundtrack was composed by Chris Ryan – the guy who did the fabulous arrangement of the themes from “Lost”, which my son learned to play on the piano. (Good for him that he’s forging a proper career as a musician in the film and TV industry… the guys is extremely talented!)
On the downside…
In my book, the ideal length for most comedies is 90 minutes. It has to be exceptional to merit a longer run time, particularly for a visual comedy film of this sort. This one was great, hence the four stars. But, for me, it still managed to outstay its welcome by those 20 minutes. A 90 minute version of this film would have been preferred by this reviewer.
The comedy is also, inevitably, a bit patchy. As with any comedy, there are some elements that work way better than others. If the duff gags could get put into that 20 minutes of cut footage, you would have a 90 minuted 5* classic.
Summary Thoughts on “Hundreds of Beavers”
A gloriously anarchic tribute to a bygone era of silent films. “Hundreds of Beavers” will not be to everyone’s taste. In fact, I’m pretty sure it will polarise audiences. But if your comic funny-bone is tweaked by this, then I predict you will like it and like it A LOT!
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Hundreds of Beavers”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m39iu2YW-oM.
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