Despite the deliberately schlocky effects and puppetry, other aspects of the filmmaking are surprisingly satisfactory. It needs to be only one notch more bonkers to help its chances for cult status.
How the film wound up in theaters rather than on the Syfy channel is anybody's guess, although the R-rated gore and sex is clearly a major factor. Nonetheless, it has a certain goofy, Troma Films-style charm, and the brief 77-minute running time makes it appropriate for the bottom half of a drive-in double feature
Where do I start? The idea of zombies is an age old tradition in cinema and the addition of wildlife (beavers) give a modern take on the classic campy zombie horror/comedy flick. But this is more than just a parody or a low budget attempt at cheap humor and pops.There is true emotion conveyed by the actors and the addition of Bill Burr's comedic genius shines through in award worthy ways but this of course is cult style film with hints of the Blair Witch Project but also the comedic overtones of great movies such as Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. The only down side to this movie is the lack of proper lighthing but when you dial up the brightness on your television or laptop this is no longer a true problem and the scary campy nature is brought out in such a way that although you may want to chuckle a little bit of fear overcomes the delicate psyches of even the most hardcore horror movie buffs, There is also drama which toys with the emotions in such a way that past television staples such as Degrassi have done in the past I would have love to see Jodie Foster shine in a role because the ladies in this movie do a great job but I feel as if an A-list actress would really be able to forge a true amount of cult status to this movie the likes of which have never been seen but that is just wishful thinking. Sure there is lowball humor but that just plays into the films originality and ability to captivate many different audiences and demographics from the youngsters looking for a little something for date night to the older generations seeking to relive their youth and the corn syrup stained days of the 1980s slasher flicks. The costume design and effects deserve praise as well because even down to the bag of Levi Garrett chew in one of characters coat pockets and the various wadrobe changes (which again play into modernization even more and make it relatable to the current generation of twentysomethings) it really drives home the idea of diversity and true knowledge of trends currently happening in fashion as well as paying homage to past staples even down to working class Americans. The addition of such contradicting vehicles such as a hybrid and also pickup trucks really show that environmental consciousness is at the forefront of this movies agenda think of this the beaver uses the natural resources it is given to the best of it's ability so why don't we, They are even about keeping monogamy and feminism strong with such great female leads that don't back down even in the face of their male counterparts who want to appear in the "machismo" fashion. It is crazy how much care and love went into this movie so light hearted and yet so intense with so much underlying depth and dimension I may have to view this film another few times to grasp it all. I give this film such a high score because I look beyond the obvious and truly feel for this multi-genre film I mean in this day and age of so many cookie cutter movies with high expectations and budgets it is nice to watch a movie that is short and sweet and doesn't need all of that to achieve it's goal of employing people and taking a vision to the silver screen. It is refreshing to note too that they utllize puppetry and humor in a way that has not been seen in a long while. So much to note about this movie that 5000 characters doesn't seem to do it justice. It is really something special and deserving of praise but of course criticisim as well I will say that it is a dark movie in terms of lighting and that is a true critique the only one I can get from it really the location is on point due to the midwest being such a center of the struggling middle class and seeing these people's struggles to enjoy just a simple weekend away from the hectic lives they lead highlights the struggles of the middle class to stay relevant in today's economic climate/environment. It shows that even in middle America fear and struggle with a little bit of light hearted humor and also the drama of relationships and confusion over sexual orientation to a small degree at least really weighs heavy on this generation of twenty somethings. It brings to light many dark issues like cheating and combines it with friendship and coming together in the face of zombified wildlife. It would be easy to just leave your friends behind but you stand up and fight for your beliefs and your freedom to vacation and live freely in such a hostile environment. How can people be so blind to such pressing issues? One may never know or guess but we can all feel some type of feeling or emotional response to all of this and the fear of death and not being able to reach one's full potential before a moment of demise is so insane. It is so tough to just make it through a day but to not back down is another true piece of this puzzle called Zombeavers I mean I wish there could be a sequel because there are so many questions that have yet to be answered but i shall not spoil. This film gets a ten out of ten for sure .
Zombeavers is not a total wash, and seen at night, under the right combination of low expectations and controlled substances, it may even seem better than it really is.
First, and foremost: Zombeavers is exactly what it sounds like, a stoner-friendly horror-comedy about undead beavers. This needs over-stating since high-concept humor doesn't get higher than this.
This was made to be lake a B-movie with out the B filming or acting. The jokes were to subtle this could have been a hilarious but you had to look at the big picture of a B-movie. I did enjoy it never felt like turning it off. Watch the outtakes you will die laughing.
Actively trying to be a stupid B-movie, "Zombeavers" proves to be just as stupidly fun as it's title implies. It's more entertaining than it has any right to be and is pretty darn funny. Of course it's one of those films that you can't take seriously at all, so just come for the ridiculous concept, gore, and dumb humor.
Obviously holding this movie under a microscope and really analyzing it is not the way to go. The characters just aren't likable, the special effects are (intentinally?) bad, and the writing isn't so great either. These are seriously some of the most loathsome college student I've ever seen. Of course that makes it all the more satisfying to watch them die.
That's really the strength of this and other movies of the like. It's all about getting involved in the ridiculousness and over-the-top deaths. Both of which Zombeavers delivers on. There's actually also some well-written jokes. It's doesn't go as absurd or as stupid as other B-movies go. Something that's actually in it's favor. Yeah, some more unexpected absurdity might have gone along way, but it manages to just stay ridiculous enough to stay entertaining with reaching the realms of awful so many other films of the type have.
The title of the movie really tells you all you need to know regarding whether this movie is for you or not. If you read it and were intrigued then give it a shot. It's likely you know what to expect and the movie delivers on it. However if you read it and thought "Oh my God, that sounds awful" then don't watch it. It is also likely that you know what to expect and again the movie delivers on it. It's stupid, funny, intentionally absurd fun that has a sense of self-awareness to go with it's action and sense of humor.
This was a way more fun movie than i thought it was going to be. Granted, I wasn't expecting high art when I started watching it (and honestly my expectations were met) but if you are someone who would want to watch this movie in the first place - you know exactly what I'm talking about! There were actually some funny lines and moments in this when the movie makes fun of itself and the acting really wasn't half bad which was a nice added bonus. (As much as good acting needs to be relied on to carry the plot when the theme is surviving a mutant, zombie beaver attack). Overall, an entertaining movie with absolutely nothing redeeming about it other than having some laughs along the way. Check it out!
Boy, if anything showcases the decline of Nickelodeon, it is this misguided and unfortunate movie for acclaimed children's cartoon, and a personal favorite, The Angry Beavers. When I supported this Kickstarter in favor of #4seasonsandamovie, I had such high hopes. When I heard that Dag and Norb would be bringing back their typically childish banter and terrific theme song for a feature film, I marked my calendar. I could not be more excited. The end result of this film left me wondering if director Jordan Rubin had ever seen the source material or if he just saw it and decided to discard it entirely. I want my money back. This is the last time I ever support a Kickstarter campaign for a beloved television show.
One of the major problems of this is the special effects. I was fine with going with live-action for the film. While the original cartoon was obviously not live-action, I thought it could be an interesting move. Plus, with the success of current CGI live-action films, the beavers should have no problem being the recognizable Dag and Norb, right? Wrong. Instead, these beavers look like puppets and really do not act like they did in the show. Where is the banter? Hell, I do not even think they spoke. All I saw was beavers nodding at one another every once in a while and surrounding some cabin in the woods. Fortunately, the same measure of brotherhood from the show is found in the film, as Dag and Norb, as well as all of the other beavers in the forest stick together.
One of the most shocking elements of The Angry Beavers Movie is the violence against beavers. While I agree with the film's approach of showcasing the problems associated with humans moving into the forest and harming beavers, I did not expect the violence. One character, Smyth (Rex Linn) warns the three main female protagonists of the fact that families are around, so they should cover up. Not only do Jenn (Lexi Atkins), Zoe (Cortney Palm), and Mary (Rachel Melvin) continue to run around in revealing clothing, but the film showcases so much violence against beavers and dogs that one must wonder if the film itself remembered that this was a family movie. For kids who loved the television series, we want to show our nieces, nephews, children, or random children, our favorite show as a movie. Yet, this will do nothing but convince those same youngsters that we are really weird.
That said, the humor is pretty much the same, as far as I can remember. Lots of beaver inside jokes and adult references that kids will not understand, thankfully. For this element, Jordan Rubin does a bit to overcome the violence and nudity, yet this is still not a film I can recommend for family viewers.
On the positive side, the film does a brilliant job to turn the humans into beavers. I was particularly moved by the scene in which Jenn grows a tail and bangs it on the ground like the rest of the beavers. At the end of the day, we are all beavers. We are united as one. Zombeavers, for all of its faults, definitely gets this important message across.
While violent and a diversion from the beloved Angry Beavers television series, the film still showcases the same anger from the beavers and the trademark comedy of the series, while also demonstrating the harm that can be caused by human involvement in the environment. Though this is not the film I expected when I popped in The Angry Beavers Movie, Zombeavers could be far worse. I just wish it was not based on a kids movie, for fear of children seeing the film.