jessy zaki When I came to watch this movie, I didn't know what to expect, actually not expecting much as I wasn't sure about Foster's direction, and it didn't well at the box office. Then I decided to watch it as I am a biggg fan of movies dealing with psycho/mental illness. To be honest, the movie is categorised under the comedy genre, but I found no comedy, maybe light scenes but didnt amount to be so funny. Also, it isn't very dark or serious drama. It is in between; a good story with fine performances. The original plot is really appreciable; a man seeking help out of his depression by adopting a beaver as his soul. It is a bit weird, but it is totally new and original idea, which I liked. About the acting, it is really good, no one could deny this fact. Mel Gibson in my opinion delivers one of his best performances, and the teens too. Jodi Foster is convincing as the caring wife who tries her best to keep her family. The pace of the movie flows well that it didn't bore me, and nearly the last 30 or 40 minutes form the best part of the movie. There is more than a scene worth watching -in my opinion- such as the one in which the protagonist fights with the puppet. Actually, through the whole movie you'll never doubt that the two are two different characters that the beaver has a real soul, thanks to Gibson's performance and the camera cuts. One last thing, don't watch it with high expectations to enjoy it. It is just a good movie with really fine wise performances.

Jadamwood Mel Gibson has always been one of my favorite actors and after Braveheart and Heartbreak Ridge I would say he is a visionary in the directing world. Mel Gibson gives a wonderful performance in this film that perfectly reaches out to the public about the subject of suicide it seems like everyone is uncomfortable with talking about. From beginning to end it captures what it's like on both sides of someone dealing with depression and suicidal tendencies and the separation of one's mind from the body to try to survive as well as the side of the family who is trying to deal with it. A fantastic movie for someone who can relate to dealing with in anyway depression or suicide. It has a few outspoken moments reaching out to people who have this mental affliction.

moonspinner55 Mel Gibson plays a troubled middle-aged toy company executive, no longer able to relate to his job nor connect emotionally with his wife and two sons, who is ready to end it all before a discarded beaver hand-puppet changes his outlook on life. "The Beaver" isn't a comedy (problem number one); worse, the psychological ramifications which transpire are misshapen. The film, written by Kyle Killen, is all Ideas: snippets of insight and personal awakening which director Jodie Foster attempts to wring pathos from. Humor might have been a saving grace here, but Foster is surprisingly straight-faced in her approach, while her performance as Mel Gibson's wife is curiously benign. It's likely that Gibson (speaking mostly with a Cockney accent) saw a potentially marvelous actor's turn in the role of Walter Black; unfortunately, the character isn't nurtured along with any shading, and Gibson is all on one (annoying) note. In its latter stages, Killen's script (complete with that dreaded 'story arc' they teach in writing courses) outrageously crosses the line while hoping to be shocking, ironic and provocative. Foster's poignant tag at the very end helps a bit, but the damage has already been done. This "Beaver" has small chops. *1/2 from ****

PWNYCNY This is a good movie that attempts to make a statement about the human condition - that each one of us are vulnerable and under extreme circumstances, if threatened, will take extraordinary measures to survive. This point is shown through the principal character, Walter Black, convincingly played by Mel Gibson, whose performance is remarkable. Black is suicidal; he is despised by his son and scorned by his wife, neither of whom are willing to accept the fact that Walter is mentally ill. Driven literally to drink and wallowing in despair, Walter seems resigned to death, but deep down, he still wants to live. To do means to assume a mask through which to cope with the hostile outside world. Instead of Walter, the world will now deal with the a toy beaver who becomes Walter's alter ego. Thus, Walter is able to cope, not as Walter per se, but as something else. The problem is, of course, that to the outside world, the beaver is merely a mask, while to Walter, it is survival itself. Walter, spiritually, is dead. He has become the beaver. The question is: can Walter ever give up the beaver and still survive? To find out, one must watch the movie. Mel Gibson's performance is brilliant. The movie is skillfully directed by Jodie Foster who reveals a deep understanding of the issues relating to mental illness and of coping in a hostile world.