Movie Review for Water for Elephants

December 18, 2010
By: Laurie Hogemark, Film critic


     Based on the book by Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants opens with the death of Jacob Jankowski's(Pattinson) parents. He is a Student of veterinary sciences at Cornell college, days away from his final exams. After the accident, he does not return back to college, therefore not becoming registered.
     Jacob leaves town, following the rail road tracks.  A train happens to pass Jacob and he decides that with nothing to loose he might as well jump it.  But he soon discovers that it is not just an ordinary train, this was the Benzini Bros. Most Spectacular Show on Earth train.  Jacob gets signed on as the circus's veterinarian and begins to care for the animals.  Then he meets Marlena (Witherspoon), the wife of the abusive owner of the circus.  In a whirlwind of events Jacob and Marlena somehow find love in the most unlikely of circumstances.  Then the circus acquires an elephant named Rosie. August (Waltz), Marlena's husband, becomes even more dangerous than ever when Rosie turned out to be useless, or so they all thought.
     This story, which focuses on the grittier side of the circus in the 1930's, could have been executed much better if the actors who played Jacob and Marlena had possessed a stronger connection on screen.  Overall this film was adequate but will not completely full fill the expectations of those who read Gruen's book

shown below: Jacob (Pattinson) and Marlena (Witherspoon) meet their new companion, Rosie.  Photo curtsy of filmair.com