Mel Tries to Salvage Career With Beaver Puppet

Mel Gibson hopes to shore up his fading career with his latest role as a depressed dad who cures himself by talking to a beaver puppet that lives on his own hand. Sounds pretty pathetic, but word is that the movie—directed by Gibson friend and fellow actor Jodie Foster—is quite good ... and the preview has finally hit US televisions (watch it in gallery). But for Mel, who reportedly suffers from alcoholism and bipolar syndrome, playing a crazy dad might not be the right career choice just now as he's battling for custody of his baby daughter with Oksana Grigorieva, notes Jon Swaine in the Telegraph.

The film is supposed to be out in spring, postponed from its initial planned summer release. Producers are reportedly a bit worried about reception. New York Mag previously predicted a minefield when Gibson meets the press on promotional tours for the film: "Imagine all the interviewers asking, 'Mel, have you ever felt like you were going crazy?'" Talk to the hand, Mel. (More Jodie Foster stories.)