The new film Hundreds of Beavers redefines what it means to be a live-action cartoon movie. As pop culture eats its own tail, we continue to see lame live-action reimaginings of beloved animated works. This is degrading in its own right, but the biggest disappointment in any of these adaptations is how averse the filmmakers are to translating animation’s energy and boundless creativity to a new medium.
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It’s no easy task to rehaul our understanding of what this medium can accomplish and still have general audiences on board (the box office numbers for Speed Racer 2008 are proof of that), but a handful of people just made a film for $150,000 that completely redefines what “Live Action Cartoon” means.
Somewhere in Wisconsin…
Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) is a successful seller of Applejack in the woodlands of Wisconsin in the 19th century, but as winter creeps in and beavers run amok, his business is destroyed and Jean is left with nothing but the thermals on his back. Braving the wilderness with no tools, little expertise, and the drive to march forward, Jean Kayak must face off against hundreds of beavers, possibly thousands.
I hesitate to reveal anything else about this plot besides this brief description of the first twenty minutes because Hundreds of Beavers has a multitude of moments and reveals that will stun you into silence before pulling out the carpet underneath your feet that will level you gasping for air between fits of laughter. It’s best to experience this film as blind and as soon as possible.
Fully Realized Visual Effects, On A Budget
The film begins with a musical prologue that quickly and hilariously sets the tone for what this film will entail. It unabashedly shows you how much greenscreen acting will be utilized throughout the film. Ryland Brickson Cole Tews reaches new heights of acting against nothing with some of the best facial expressions and visual comedy I’ve seen in years. Commitment to the “bit” this extreme is difficult to find, and Tews completely nails this homage to the likes of Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin.
While this is certainly paying respect to the era of cinema that came one hundred years ago, Hundreds Of Beavers crafts a silent film with modernity in its style and influences. The visual effects that dominate every scene are bizarre and will most certainly remind you of the After Effects heavy comedy sketches from Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! than any other use of CGI in the modern era. This obviously cuts down on costs and is extremely beneficial to the tone that Cheslik and Tews are crafting. Why try to make everything look realistic when you could make everything move just like a cartoon from the 40’s?
A New Age Of Low-Budget, Independent Cinema
I believe we are on the precipice of another rise of independent films taking over the media landscape. We live in an era where everyone owns a camera, and it’s more accessible than ever to shoot a film with your friends. With the enormous amount of movies from the studio system finally starting to give way as more and more audience members grow bored of the bloat of modern blockbusters, more ambitious and lower-budgeted films like Hundreds of Beavers have started to cling to the minds of filmgoers with relief.
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Here is a film that tries its darndest to entertain its viewers at every possible moment, and let me tell you, it delivers ten times over. 2024 is already shaping up to be a wonderful year of film, in no small part due to the release of Hundreds of Beavers, an instant classic that rightly earns the score,
9/10
Hundreds Of Beavers is now available to rent and buy digitally on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
About Hundreds of Beavers
Release Date (Digitally): April 15, 2024
Directed by: Mike Cheslik
Written by: Mike Cheslik & Ryland Brickson Cole Tews
Produced by: Kurt Ravenwood, Matt Sabljak, Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, & Sam Hogerton
Cinematography: Quinn Hester
Distribution: Apple TV+, Prime Video
Cast: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Olivia Graves, Wes Tank, Doug Mancheski, & Luis Rico
Synopsis: JEAN KAYAK finds himself stranded in a surreal winter landscape with nothing but his dim wits to guide him. Against a backdrop of ruthless elements and sinister creatures – all played by actors in full-sized mascot costumes – KAYAK develops increasingly complex traps in order to win the hand of a mischievous lover.
Have you never heard of Hundreds of Beavers? Are you a big fan of slapstick comedy? Deathly afraid of beavers? Let us know, and share your thoughts with us on social media and Discord!
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