One thing that is particularly impressive about this movie is how realistically clinical depression is portrayed. Mel Gibson does a great job of showing the heavy weight that depressed people bear and how they are unaffected by every outside attempt to help them. Jodie Foster and the rest of the cast do an equally phenomenal job of showing how family members of people suffering from depression are put into a painful position caught between trying to help their loved ones while also trying not to be dragged down as well.

Once the titular Beaver makes the scene, things take a turn from horribly depressing to wacky and surreal. Foster strikes a balance between absurdity and reality, as the people that meet Walter and his puppet are first taken aback and then quickly accept it for what it is.

The only weak point of this movie was the arc involving Jennifer Lawrence's character, which wasn't due to her acting so much as poor characterization that left the character too flat and too much of a Mary Sue.

On the whole, The Beaver is a whirlwind of emotion that ends on a bittersweet note and does a great job of spotlighting the struggles that people with clinical depression must face.

Give this one a watch if you're feeling thoughtful and reflective.