Hundreds of Beavers
As of today (5/23) it is the best movie of 2024. Who knew you needed a live action Looney Tunes version of a video game, but we absolutely did. For what it is, a slapstick comedy, it may be perfect... but on the whole of all movies it is not quite there for me. For a no dialog movie, I laughed way more than anyone ever should. A must watch if you get the chance and looking forward to a rewatch!
-J
Ellen deemed Hundreds of Beavers worthy of a 10, just her third ever given, and I wholeheartedly agree. Jord chickened out on his 10, honestly, as Hundreds of Beavers is a PERFECT movie. I’m already daydreaming about re-watching it, and I HATE to re-watch movies. It’s so creative, so absurdly funny, and the nostalgia of my childhood cartoons and games made it feel so warm and familiar, despite the icy and inhospitable landscape showcased in the movie. We have been blessed with some very strong movies already in 2024, but as of this moment, Hundreds of Beavers edges out even Dune: Part Two for ZEJ’s top movie of 2024, and at 9.83, it has the second highest rating of all time, just behind the movie that started this website, EEAAO.
-Z
Do I feel a little uncomfortable giving a slapstick comedy that could be from the 30s with the art style of Blues Clues and Bear in the Big Blue House on cocaine a perfect 10/10? A little bit, yeah, but it just can’t be denied that this is a perfect film. It knew exactly what it wanted to be, and leaned into it as hard as it could. The visual gags were incredible, and it somehow felt like every bit escalated perfectly and paid off right when it should. I wasn’t sure how they were gonna fit a meaningful story into such an insane genre and artstyle, but they somehow did, and it was great. I was grinning ear to ear the entire ride. I didn’t know how they were going to start at 10 and never let up while keeping me from getting burned out on the gags, but I was glued to my seat the entire time. While everything about it seems like this movie should be horrible, it is the definition of delightful.
-Tony (guest rater and official tiebreaker of ZEJ Reviews)
