Mel Gibson's acting was terrific, as both the super-depressed husband/father and his alter-ego, the Beaver. And when the Beaver first appeared, I thought this movie is really going to be different, quirky and fun. I still had hope when his wife initially accepted the Beaver alter-ego as much better than the big fat zero her husband had been the last time she had seen him. And as the Beaver explained, Gibson's character had tried every other cure for depression known to man: psychotherapy, anti-depressant drugs, self-help books, and nothing had worked. But now he was trying something new and radical, and it seemed to be working a miracle. So why not leave well enough alone, and see where the Beaver would take her husband? But nooooo...she can't take this obvious improvement, and insists on bringing her husband back to reality and his painful depression--thus bringing him into the jaws of disaster yet again.
Also, how is it that this man's oldest son is virtually psychic when it comes to being empathetic with his fellow students, and yet has no empathy or sympathy at all for his own father, whom he once loved? What is his excuse for hating his father so unrelentingly? We are never shown a reason.
The only family member who exhibits consistent kindness and empathy for this man in his new alter-ego form as the Beaver, is his youngest son, who doesn't mind at all that his father talks in a Cockney accent and uses a hand puppet, because now his father is very positive, creative and fun. Why is this small child the only family member who accepts the miracle of the Beaver? What stupid, mean people the others are! Is that what the author of this story was trying to tell us?
Also, how is it that this man's oldest son is virtually psychic when it comes to being empathetic with his fellow students, and yet has no empathy or sympathy at all for his own father, whom he once loved? What is his excuse for hating his father so unrelentingly? We are never shown a reason.
The only family member who exhibits consistent kindness and empathy for this man in his new alter-ego form as the Beaver, is his youngest son, who doesn't mind at all that his father talks in a Cockney accent and uses a hand puppet, because now his father is very positive, creative and fun. Why is this small child the only family member who accepts the miracle of the Beaver? What stupid, mean people the others are! Is that what the author of this story was trying to tell us?