“The Beaver” was made after Mel Gibson produced his drunken, anti-Semitic rant, but before the mother of his youngest child accused him of assaulting her. Just as critics wondered if anyone would see or admit to liking “Apocalypto,” released just months after the DUI incident, some are now wondering if “The Beaver” will revive or end Gibson’s career. The actor-director certainly has issues, to put it lightly. But this time, they actually help, not hinder, his performance. Gibson plays Walter Black, a formerly successful family man — sound familiar? — who finds his life inexplicably falling apart. It’s not really a midlife crisis, though. Walter doesn’t buy a convertible or start wearing designer clothes. He’s simply depressed. If you can ever call mental illness simple.
His frustrated but still loving wife, Meredith (Jodie Foster, who also directs), finally kicks him out. His older son, Porter (Anton Yelchin), is pleased — to him, his father is an embarrassment. But younger boy Henry (Riley Thomas Stewart) is devastated, even if Dad had all but disappeared before, anyway.
| On screen |
| ‘The Beaver’ |
| 3 out of 5 stars |
| Stars: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin |
| Director: Jodie Foster |
| Rated: PG-13 for mature thematic material, some disturbing content, sexuality and language including a drug reference |
| Running time: 91 minutes |
Walter sees nothing left to live for. In a cold hotel room, he decides to kill himself. But someone stops him. It turns out Walter still has a friend, after all. His name is the Beaver.
The Beaver is a hand puppet Walter found in a trash bin. Walter voices him — in an amusing Cockney accent — but somehow considers him a separate entity. The Beaver makes Walter come to life again. His work and home life are almost miraculously restored. But can Walter get by without this strange little being on his arm?
You might be wondering if “The Beaver” is a comedy or a drama. The film doesn’t quite seem to know either. There’s a jarring mix of tone here. The music and narration belong into a cutesy storybook movie. Walter’s depression and its effects most certainly do not. “The Beaver” is watchable, but never quite engaging. We don’t understand why Walter has suddenly become depressed — heredity seems to play a role — and we don’t get to know much of this new Walter before the Beaver takes over.
Gibson, of course, is well suited right now to playing a man in pain. But he has little chemistry with Foster, who plays the woman who gives him more chances than he deserves. Some might say Foster has done the same as the director of this film.
