From Jeremy Kibler

When the studio system so often relies on sequels, remakes, and movies based on IP, it is refreshing to get an independently produced curiosity like Hundreds of Beavers. It’s become a buzzy critical darling on the festival circuit and now in its roadshow-style theatrical release, and it’s not hard to see why. A farcical, $150,000-budgeted semi-silent film shot in black-and-white with actors in mascot animal costumes wouldn’t sound like high art. But as a piece of DIY filmmaking, Hundreds of Beavers is damn resourceful and committed to its original vision. 

Leading man (and co-writer) Ryland Brickson Cole Tews has an undeniably expressive face for silent film in playing Jean Kayak, a happy-go-lucky purveyor of Acme Applejack. When beavers become the catalyst for his entire orchid to be burnt down, he’s left in the frigid wilderness in his long johns. Jean is rocked by misfortune, like setting himself on fire and stepping on pinecones, but also blessed with small victories. If he can trap hundreds of beavers and sell their pelts to the grumpy local merchant (Wes Tank), Jean gets the hand of the merchant’s flirty daughter (Olivia Graves). 

If you had to give an elevator pitch for the approach behind writer-director Mike Cheslik’s Hundreds of Beavers, it would be a Looney Tunes cartoon blended with Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s Cannibal! The Musical and an arcade game. Aside from the sounds of laughing, grumbling, screaming, whistling, woodpecker pecking, and other foley mumblings, Hundreds of Beavers is pure visual comedy, with a rough-hewn nature to the animation that’s always visually inspired. When the art of sight gags—and structured setups and payoffs—feels like it’s been lost in the era of comedy improv, filmmaker Cheslik keeps stacking a mountain of funny gags. Luckily, no actual beavers (and rabbits and raccoons) were harmed in the making, and you’ll see why. 

Shot in Wisconsin and Michigan for four years, Hundreds of Beavers is a true labor of love. There’s so much to admire here about the mere concept of it all, and most of the zany, zippy slapstick and overall absurdism can be delightful even during a not-quite-sustainable 108 minutes. It also has one of the best title-card introductions an hour and fifteen minutes in, and with purpose. With no lack of effort, this feature-length experiment begins to wear thin less than half-way through and grows quite repetitive. Once our hero finally gets to the beavers’ dam, the film does pick up more steam and culminates with a thrillingly elaborate chase involving logs. 

If we don’t get to ever see the Coyote vs. Acme movie from Warner Bros., at least we have the singularly goofy Hundreds of Beavers.

Rating: 3/5

Hundreds of Beavers is in select theaters and available on Amazon and Apple TV. 

Here is a list of local screenings: https://www.hundredsofbeavers.com/#watch

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