Review of The Beaver (2011) by Dana A — 28 Sep 2011

Harnessing the dramatic value of Mel Gibson's descent into madness, this bizarre story of a psychologically damaged father who communicates through a hand-puppet, is an original and ultimately gripping experience that really tugs on the heartstrings.

At first, when I saw the trailer, I thought it was some kind of elaborate joke. In fact, me and my brother whom I saw it with couldn't stop laughing at the whole gimmick with the beaver. It's unintentionally hilarious, especially considering Gibson's real-life mental health.

There's even a scene where he makes love to his wife with the puppet still on his hand. Very weird to say the least. Beneath the awkwardness of it all though, dwells a surprisingly relatable human condition.

For what could easily have been the turkey of the year, became something poignant and meaningful in the hands of director Jodie Foster. An interesting character study, that actually makes some well-reasoned points about the lesser sides of modern society.

It's a potent film nevertheless, despite its tendencies to be bordeline-parodic. This was actually a strangely believable story with a lot of beautiful performances. Mel Gibson may not possess all his marbles anymore, but that's exactly what makes this movie such a compelling one to watch.