Foster does her audience an injustice by adopting a humorless tone and refusing to have more fun with the obvious elephant in the room.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 9, 2023

I only wish that Gibson and Yelchin had more screen time.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 19, 2022

The integrity of the actors and director rescues this film from disaster. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Aug 9, 2022

All in all, this movie is just fine. It has humor, and hope, and it features a number of likable actors (even Mel) in likable roles.

Full Review | Mar 24, 2021

Despite some funny visuals in the trailer is not a comedy. It is a dark exploration of mental illness and its effect on the family unit.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 31, 2021

The Beaver flirts with virtually every genre.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.0/4.0 | Sep 2, 2020

I was shocked by how effective it actually was.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Aug 10, 2020

The Beaver is a well-crafted film with some very compelling elements.

Full Review | Apr 3, 2020

The Beaver is a conscientious, industrious and creative film that not only gives us one of the best performances of the year with Mel Gibson, but builds hope in shedding a light on the issue of depression.

Full Review | Nov 16, 2019

Gibson, of course, is well suited right now to playing a man in pain. But he has little chemistry with Foster, who plays the woman who gives him more chances than he deserves.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 8, 2019

This really is one of the most unbalanced, incohesive, disturbing, vomit-inducing, yet strangely captivating movies I have seen in some time.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 14, 2018

This might have been better as an intimate drama about mental illness and it doesn't have time to explore all of its themes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 24, 2018

[Gibson offers] one of the most subtly complex turns of his long career, single-handedly pulling off Foster's strange, imperfect but ultimately affecting dramedy.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 8, 2018

The other actors keep pace with Gibson, especially Yelchin and Jennifer Lawrence as a teen love interest. The thick, meaty, rich, dark film offers only a few moments of gallows humor to lighten the mood.

Full Review | Apr 4, 2018

The quirky concept and Gibson's powerhouse performance give The Beaver unexpected resonance.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 14, 2016

It doesn't quite work, but it does provide something of a cinematic exorcism for the public's increasingly conflicted relationship with Gibson.

Full Review | May 12, 2015

Thinks it's a whimsical tale of a man finding himself, but Gibson thinks it's the tale of a man losing his mind.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jun 22, 2013

Jodie Foster's The Beaver had its moments, but the overall premise just didn't fly. I just couldn't buy the idea of the talking puppet.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Jun 2, 2013

Mel Gibson's last hurrah

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 14, 2013

A unique and thoughtful project that showcases a charming, as well as unconventional, character journey -- and one of Gibson's best roles to date.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 2, 2012