As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of cinema history, I must say that “Hundreds of Beavers” is nothing short of a marvelous masterpiece. This film beautifully embodies the spirit of the past while infusing it with a refreshing dose of contemporary humor and creativity.
Silent cinema rocks. The likes of F.W. Murano, Alice Guy-Blanche, King Vidor, Buster Keaton, and Charles Chaplin didn’t have a choice in working with no dialogue. They had to excel creatively within the technological limits of the early 1900s. Yet within those confines, they created movie magic that’s still dazzling today. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans remains a perfect piece of filmmaking for a reason. Having no access to dialogue inspired ingenuity rather than creative stagnancy. The 2024 comedy Hundreds of Beavers provides a glorious reminder of silent cinema’s charms among many other feats. Who knew the sight of a grown man tussling with people in beaver costumes would fuel one of the year’s most incredible motion pictures?
In the film “Hundreds of Beavers,” written and directed by Mike Cheslik along with Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, we find ourselves in a small setting. The protagonist, Jean Kayak (played by Cole Tews), an applejack salesman, wakes up to discover he’s isolated and winter has blanketed the area with snow. He must now survive on his own and contend with a multitude of feisty wild animals, all portrayed as people in costumes resembling rabbits, beavers, raccoons, and dogs. As time passes, Jean Kayak improves his hunting skills significantly. Nevertheless, he’s not proficient enough to impress The Merchant (Doug Mancheski) and win the hand of his daughter, The Furrier (Olivia Graves).
Here’s a possible rephrased sentence that maintains the humor and playfulness while being more straightforward and easier to understand: “What might win him the girl he adores? Why, capturing countless beavers, no doubt!
It really is the simplest things that can be the funniest. That’s a reality modern comedy films tend to forget about. Think of how many Hollywood comedies (usually courtesy of Paul Feig or Judd Apatow) let scenes go on and on as they suffocate under “hilarious” improvisation. So many words fill up the eardrums of moviegoers. So few giggles escape their mouths. Meanwhile, Hundreds of Beavers, whether by budgetary limitations or the creative instincts of Cheslik and company (maybe both!) get endless belly laughs out of the static faces of the various animal costumes.
In simpler terms, the humor in this cartoon lies in the fact that the expressions on the animals’ faces remain consistent, regardless of the situation they’re in. This contrast between ordinary situations and unchanging facial expressions often leads to laughter. It’s like a funny twist on how not seeing certain things in movies like Jaws or Alien can make them scarier. In Hundreds of Beavers, the lack of visible eye twitches or mouth movements creates a similar, but comical, effect. The simple and endearing designs of the animals’ faces also allow for a lot of interpretation, which adds to the humor.
In simpler terms, the animal costumes in the movie are filled with numerous hilarious moments, such as the screaming puppet frog, a pepper shaker sight gag, an extended sequence featuring rabbit footprints, a recurring joke about Jean Kayak walking across a map, and many more unforgettable scenes. These elements showcase a high level of skill and attention to detail in creating this low-budget production. The best kind of silly comedy is made with lots of affection and care, and Hundreds of Beavers embodies that perfectly.
Cheslik, the skillful cinematographer Quinn Hester, along with the entire cast and crew, present exceptional performances that beautifully blend elements of classic silent films and the humorously exaggerated physics from old Looney Tunes cartoons. They’ve clearly done their research and gone above and beyond, demonstrating a remarkable command over physical comedy. Yet, they manage to avoid being mere replicas of Sherlock Jr. or The Gold Rush; instead, they create something fresh and unique within this established style.
As a gamer, I’ve got to say that the unique blend in this silent film really stands out. Instead of typical targets like ducks or pigeons, we’re shooting beavers – a twist that feels straight out of a video game! The extended jokes, like grabbing a coin from a frosty surface, have an Adult Swim humor vibe that keeps things interesting. And let’s not forget the visual influences drawn from classic video games.
One standout demonstration of this can be found in Olivia Graves’ portrayal of The Furrier. Just like Virginia Cherrill and Janet Gaynor in the silent film era, she possesses an engaging quality that draws you in instantly. Her presence makes you eager to follow her narrative. What sets Graves apart, however, is that she takes on a more unconventional comedic role compared to many silent film romantic interests. Unlike them, she’s not just there to provide comic relief or serve as a stoic counterpart to the male lead. Instead, she takes center stage, engaging in offbeat antics such as plucking the organs of a deceased beaver or executing a clandestine pole dance that leaves Jean Kayak squirming uncomfortably.
Graves appears as if she’d seamlessly fit into a silent film comedy by Harold Lloyd from the 1920s. Yet, in Hundreds of Beavers, her comedic timing is amplified to levels unimaginable a century ago. Her exceptional acting skillfully captures the essence of both past and present, serving as the soul of this production. This soul also thrives on an extraordinary commitment to creating stunning visuals on a shoestring budget. Unlike expensive productions like Megalopolis that graced theaters in 2024 with the grandeur of The Amazing Bulk, Hundreds of Beavers achieves remarkable sights on a minimal budget.
In the process of creation, Beavers employs $150,000 and produces a multitude of stunning visuals, including a giant beaver Gundam and various comedic elements. Drawing inspiration from Safety Last or Rankin-Bass stop-motion specials in certain aspects allows Beavers to craft cinematic enchantment without the need for budgets exceeding $100 million. This film, however, doesn’t give off a vibe of financial constraints; instead, it presents an endless array of creative ideas on screen. A notable scene showcases a fierce battle between Jean Kayak and numerous beavers within a cabin (complete with a buzzsaw and plenty of packing peanuts), which is executed with such finesse that one wouldn’t suspect tight budgeting.
In this film, “Hundreds of Beavers,” the artistic choices in visual effects are remarkable and extend beyond what one might expect. Even though it’s set in a highly stylized, cartoonish world, many scenes were actually filmed outdoors using real-life backdrops. For instance, the interior of a wolf cave was created using footage captured by drones. While watching “Hundreds of Beavers” for the first time, I didn’t realize this level of detail in filmmaking, but upon reflection, it makes sense why the fictional world is so captivating. There are several shots that were clearly taken outdoors with natural lighting, which adds to the immersiveness of the setting. Small details like how sunlight filters through tree branches lend a touch of realism to the otherwise fantastical scenes. Additionally, the film features an innovative development of a classic visual gag where dogs play poker.
Above all its impressive filmmaking aspects, Hundreds of Beavers truly shines in the area that matters most: comedy. This movie consistently pushes the boundaries of absurdity and manages to seamlessly connect recurring jokes. It’s all so inventive, witty, and side-splittingly funny. Even as I write this review, I find myself chuckling at the standout visual gags (such as a beaver priest leaping into a giant grave or our main character patting a man in a horse costume) that had me laughing out loud during my two viewings of Beavers. It’s no wonder that Hundreds of Beavers is my favorite movie of 2024 thus far, hands down. Such exceptional humor and filmmaking isn’t commonplace. So, appreciate the beavers and their madness!
Hundreds of Beavers is now available on Tubi.
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2024-10-08 15:15