Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster “Beaver” Struggles to Make A Million Dollars
It’s possible that at this point “The Beaver” won’t make a million bucks domestically. So far it’s taken in less than $700,000. The number of theatres that the Mel Gibson-Jodie Foster calamity is playing in has been reduced now for Memorial Day weekend. On the bright side, according to boxofficemojo.com. “The Beaver” has been a hit in Italy, with $450,000 in ticket sales. I don’t know what this says about the Italians, who I thought were smarter than that. Maybe it’s been a slow spring. Anyway. “The Beaver” cost at least $21 million, not counting prints, publicity, ads, and travel. Not since Kevin Costner’s “The Postman” has money been flushed down the toilet in such an egregious way. From the terrible title (I mean, really, “The Beaver”? Couldn’t they have called it “I’m Your Puppet”? That was a good song) to the whole business of trying to prop up Gibson by exploiting his own personal melodramas, this was a disaster. I guess the producers who put up the money– Jeff Skoll’s Participant Media and a fund out of Abi Dhabi–won’t miss $25 million or so.
When I first heard of the movie, I honestly thought it was a remake of the 1960’s TV show “Leave it to Beaver”. For a second, I though he would be playing Beaver’s dad or something.
I thought it was a good movie. You seem to have a personal vendetta against Mel Gibson. I don’t agree with what he said nor did. However, I find it extremely hypocritical of all those bashing him but raving about the Hangover. Did they not hire a convicted rapist who has had many recorded melt downs? Yet, he can be forgiven. You Hollywood and East Coat elites are something else.
I think it would have done better if it was released at the height of the controversy. It would have received alot more press then.