February 14, 2025

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

All things film – In print and online

Hundreds of Beavers (Film Review)

If you have ever sat around wondering what Alejandro G. Inarritu's The Revenant would be like if, instead of being ponderous and self serious, it was a live action cartoon, then Mike Cheslik has the film for you. starts out promising, a jaunty (and annoyingly catchy) tune introduces us to Jean Kayak (), an applejack salesman who loses his business and turns to fur trapping instead. 

Tews, responsible for the equally silly, and also equally enjoyable Lake Michigan Monster, brings his “I'll do anything” energy to this. While LMM had snappy dialogue, delivered in a ludicrous voice for the most part, Beavers has no dialogue. This might be worrisome if Tews wasn't a massively physical actor. 

What Mike Cheslik, who directs as well as co-writes, understands is how to time a visual joke. The timing of some of these gags is perfect. It could, and should, be taught in editing class. One involving the promise of a violent showdown that turns to a silent image of a man walking is particularly funny. 

What the film is, essentially, is a Tex Avery animation. Helped by some well used animation, Tews himself is Wile-E Coyote, and figuratively and very literally throws himself into the action of the film. While at times this could be seen as a fun idea for a short film stretched too thin, it's bolstered by Olivia Graves supporting performance as Kayak's potential love interest The Furrier.

It's here that, despite being farcical, the film actually finds something human to latch onto, which helps when a large chunk of the film is a shirtless (and suitably ripped) Tows lunging at people dressed in beaver costumes. Graves has a way of looking that is perfect for silent cinema, and wisely doesn't try to meet Tews on his level. Instead she plays the role more subtly, while Tews turns himself into a cartoon.

The film's score by Chris Ryan works well, straddling the line between overplaying the overt comedy of the piece and actually adding some subtlety. It's more bombastic moments help to bring the audience into the mood and feel of the film, which is entirely kitsch.

The extent of someone's enjoyment might be dependent on how much they enjoy the silly nature of the film and the fact that you're watching a grown man dressed like Tanooki Mario run around in the snow. But, given we might never see Coyote vs Acme, this might be our best bet at getting a live action Looney Tunes film any time soon, and that can only be a good thing.

Hundreds of Beavers is currently only available in the US.