The zany brilliance of the cult hit ‘Hundreds of Beavers’

I heard the rumors about a one-of-a-kind movie with a 97% “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Even the snootier Metacritic scale lists it as a “Must-See” 82. IMDB users love it. So do folks who log their viewing on Letterboxd. Most shocking, this acclaimed audience favorite is free for all to stream on Tubi TV.

I am here to confirm that “Hundreds of Beavers” is the breakout comedy of the year. It’s even “almost” family-friendly, give or take the occasional appearance of “stuffed animal insides.”

Made on a shoestring budget, “Hundreds of Beavers” is a black-and-white silent film about a wannabe fur trapper (played by co-writer Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) who takes on a forest full of cuddly creatures to survive the winter and woo the fort merchant’s daughter. These animals are all played by humans in cartoonish, big-headed costumes. What begins as a hunt for a few rabbits becomes a battle of wits between the trader and literally hundreds of beavers.

Best described as a live-action “Looney Tunes” cartoon, “Hundreds of Beavers” ditches dialogue in favor of zany sound effects and an epic, joyful musical score by Chris Ryan. The fur trapper begins as a desperate drunk before learning the ways from a couple of reluctant master trappers. Wolves attack, rabbits prove to be as clever as Bugs Bunny and the Beavers multiply and become bloodthirsty for revenge.

This is the kind of movie where the Beavers' big cartoon eyes switch to black Xs upon their demise. There are some truly hilarious deaths here, all mostly played with innocent whimsy (minus those felt intestines in a couple of scenes).

Shockingly, even with an hour-and-50-minute runtime, “Hundreds of Beavers” never runs out of steam. Director and co-writer Mike Cheslik keeps building the mayhem with endearing makeshift gags. The special effects are homemade and cheap, but the execution becomes increasingly brilliant.

Shot in rural Wisconsin and Michigan during wintertime, “Hundreds of Beavers” has a homemade feel but a zealous commitment to the bit. In a world where Warner Bros. literally canceled the release of a fully completed “Looney Tunes” movie, the cult success of this film demonstrates the value and desire for intelligently staged slapstick.

If “intelligently staged” and “slapstick” don’t belong in the same sentence for you, then perhaps “Hundreds of Beavers” won’t be for you. It was very much for me. It’ll be right there on Tubi for anyone looking for a burst of silly joy.

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Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.