I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite as random as this, which is probably why I couldn't stop laughing. A throwback to the slapstick movies of the 1920's and 30's, with some Monty Python style animation and a few classic video game sound effects thrown into the mix, Hundreds of Beavers is a zany adventure in which our hero, Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) is forced to take on the bitter North American winter after losing everything, thanks to some pesky beavers. Imagine a feature length, live action Looney Tunes episode and you're probably halfway there.
Tews fully commits to this whole crazy idea of a movie, delivering a performance that's just the right kind of whacky. Jean Kayak's antics are hilarious, but watching him struggle on despite failure after failure in an environment determined to kill him, it's not long before you actually start to root for him. The man may not speak a single word, but Tews is able to emote everything that Jean is going through. At the same time, you very quickly begin to realise that all is not what it seems in the woods, as all manner of critters pursue, thwart and generally piss off our hardy hero. But it's the titular wood chippers that will have you wondering. Wondering just what they're up to. And you probably won't believe it when you see it!
Director Mike Cheslik - also the other half of the writing duo with Tews - conjures a world that in any other movie would look too ridiculous. A bunch of people in animal costumes running around snow-covered woodland, chasing a lunatic of a human who somehow refuses to die. In any other movie you wouldn't be able to take it seriously. But with Hundreds of Beavers Cheslick not only makes it work, he turns this ludicrous concept into a hysterical and surprisingly gripping adventure. One that may be a little on the long side, but is still able to continually surprise you throughout its 108 minute runtime.
It certainly helps that those portraying the apparent legions of critters - much like Tews - give 110% in their performances. While the costumes look fantastic, albeit far from authentic. But that's yet another selling point of the whole extravaganza; they're not trying to be authentic, they simply want you to buy into this world, and it pays off, because you can't help but be drawn in. The same goes for the animation and some incredible puppetry. Instead of trying to compete with big Hollywood projects, they do something entirely different, not only making Hundreds of Beavers a feast for the eyes, but using that rather unique look Cheslik and Tews manage to dial up the already high levels of lunacy. In comparison, the Pythons trotting about the British countryside to the sound of coconuts almost looks... well, sane.
There are no limits to the lunacy, making Hundreds of Beavers a hysterically random adventure into the wilderness, with the unlikeliest of heroes.
9/10
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