The Beaver

It is hard to come to The Beaver without preconceptions, starring as it does Tinseltown's greatest pariah and featuring a story about a man who talks through a furry hand puppet. And initial impressions are not good. The film opens with a montage sequence which charts the descent of Walter Black (Mel Gibson) into depression, set to the music of a jaunty accordion. The heart sinks. Will this really be a kooky take on mental health issues, a bi-polar Amelie?

And yet it's not that bad. Mel Gibson gives an intriguing performance, one which suggests that he is not unacquainted with the demons that affect his character. Nor is the film the ponderous affair we might have expected from its director and co-star, Jodie 'Nell' Foster. It moves along at a sprightly clip and the script   has a cracked quality that keeps us guessing. Perhaps not a great movie, but an unexpectedly entertaining one.