There was a time when comedy was considered a form of art. That being said, art is subjective and how high a person holds the Marx Brothers or John Ritter in comedic esteem will vary by individual. There is no disputing one thing, however. They just don’t make comedies like they used to.
Then there are filmmakers like Mike Cheslik. Hundreds of Beavers is a black and white silent comedy that is a throwback to the earliest days of film. Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, who worked with Tews on Lake Michigan Monster) is an applejack master who is trying to win the hand of a merchant’s daughter. The father agrees with one caveat. He requires beavers. Hundreds of them.
The premise sounds too simple to work, but some clever gags and a willingness to get utterly wacky makes for an entertaining watch. Hundreds of Beavers is silly fun that plays like a live-action cartoon. Rockets, wolves, and dogs that play poker are just part of the story’s nonsense. The comedy is a refreshing change of pace from today’s humor that manages to be funny without being fun.
The silliest part of the movie may be the title characters. Instead of using CGI or creating hundreds of puppets, the beavers are literally people dressed in beaver costumes. The joke never gets old. Giving them real jobs like private detectives and playing the whole thing straight adds to Hundreds of Beavers.
The movie also has modern touches. Mario games served as an inspiration (rabbit holes serve as warp pipes) and the entire second act is designed to look like a let’s play. It is an odd mix that comes together due to the humor and tone. There are also some animated sequences that take the place of a traditional plot.
Hundreds of Beavers is a unique mix of decades old comedy, video games, and Looney Toons. Everything blends together seamlessly in a story that is all about having fun. There is nothing else like it. Those looking for something completely different should definitely check this out.
Hundreds of Beavers is available now on VOD and digital
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