Mike Cheslik’s “Hundreds of Beavers”

Hundreds of Beavers (2022) - Mike Cheslik, United States

“…a heap of fun best enjoyed with the biggest group you can muster.”

★★★★★

Theatrical, hilarious and a unique experience with the right audience, Hundreds of Beavers manages to marry influences from Looney Tunes and Buster Keaton to modern video games presented in in silent era black and white. I was fortunate enough to see it at London’s Prince Charles Cinema in a packed afternoon screening. I’ve never been to a film that had as many laughs. A lot of films like this run out of gags by the final act but this is gag dense from beginning to end, permeated by slapstick humour that isn’t crass or cynical (though often violent) which taps into something altogether more universal.

It tells the story of Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews), a successful 19th century applejack whose Acme Applejack enterprise brews and sells to fur trappers as well as serving his own alcoholic tendencies. All is well until one day, a beaver’s gnawing along with the first snowflake of winter destroys his orchards, brewery and home leaving him left to fend for himself against the elements. This is all told in a rousing song which introduces the film. From this point, we get acquainted with the world where animals are played by people in costumes or puppets, physics align to classic cartoons, and intentions are clearly shown despite the dialogue free approach.

What underpins this all is a true character arc for Jean, clear motivations and a thoughtful approach to the script. The gags, even those that appear random at the start, have a pay off and development further along. Chaplin’s The Gold Rush (1925) has a similar feel though here, we see things like video game levelling up as Jean learns, ups his skills and evolves.

Overall, it’s nice to have a film that’s well made and a true belly-laugh escape from the world. It’s a heap of fun best enjoyed with the biggest group you can muster.