Hundreds of Beavers is a comedy set in 19th century Wisconsin about applejack salesmen Jean Kayak(Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) who becomes a fur trapper. Shot in black and white, with a combination of Charlie Chaplin style slapstick, Looney Tunes chaos, and video game methodology the film follows Kayak as he attempts to rebuild his life after the titular beavers destroy it.
Tews gives a wonderful, big hearted, open performance. There is very little dialogue and other than himself he is mostly playing against people in animal costumes. He's able to execute some effective and complicated physical comedy while also transmuting palpable emotion with an over-the-top exaggeration that is in keeping with the delicious alchemy of style the film creates. The four other humans in the cast are equally adept but have significantly less screentime. And all the cast in animal costumes are surprisingly evocative.
The film looks incredible, the ingenuity of the images and the integration of various influences in style is tremendous and works in harmony to create something which clearly nods to its inspirations but in itself feels wholly new, completely unique. The costuming is relatively simple, almost archetypal, but works to evoke an almost ethereal(and funny) folk tale. There is a fair amount of greenscreen work but its integration is seamless and furthers the cartoon-reality. In short all the production elements are woven together into a melodious tapestry, a testament that cinema is very much alive, and that creativity and innovation can and will eclipse the necessity of budget. Not to mention theme, the film tackles isolation, love, alcoholism, and the fur trade among others but with its zany mad-cap energy its able to zip in and out of the ideas effectively while delivering its non-stop gags.
Absolutely stupendous.
Currently available to rent on most VOD platforms.
Don't Miss It.
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