Many people will want to bypass Water For Elephants simply because of the fact that it stars Robert Pattinson (Love & Distrust, Remember Me) who seems to have lost favour with many film fans due to his portrayal of Edward Cullen in The Twilight series of films. It’s a shame really because on the back of Remember Me Pattinson is really starting to set himself up as one of the finest young actors going around. His performance here in the terrific Water For Elephants only enhances that praise.
Based on the novel by Sara Gruen Water For Elephants tells the story of Jacob (Pattinson) a young vet who is left homeless after the death of his parents. While hitching a ride on the rails Jacob comes across a circus and soon wins over the owner, August (Christoph Waltz – The Green Hornet, Inglourious Basterds) and becomes close friends with August’s wife, Marlena (Reese Witherspoon – How Do You Know, Monsters vs. Aliens), whom also happens to be the circus’s star attraction. As time goes on Jacob is left in charge of the circus’s new acquisition, a bull elephant which sees him working closer with Marlena whom he starts to feel a connection with. Soon Jacob also finds himself clashing with August who is abusive to both Marlena and the elephant.
Water For Elephants certainly shouldn’t be classed as a ‘chick flick’ as most of the film comes from the male-point-of-view and you certainly have to describe most of the characters as ‘blokey’. There is a romance but the core of the story is a man overcoming obstacles, achieving his dream and then sticking up for what he believes in.
Director, Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, TV’S Kings) has certainly worked hard to make this film feel authentic, and he achieves this so well that at times it does feel that you are right there in the circus with all the characters. However, this realism does also cause a minor problem in that the animal cruelty does look so realistic at times that you could imagine this being a tough watch for animal lovers… but it is an important part of the film and certainly shouldn’t have been left out like some people have stated.
The other important thing that audiences walking away from Water For Elephants see is that Robert Pattinson really does back-up his performance from Remember Me with a brilliant performance, certainly nobody should be suggesting that he is a hack actor who only gets work because of the popularity of Twilight. Christoph Watz also puts in a fine effort and in the scenes he shares with Pattinson, Pattinson holds his own and is equal to Waltz in the acting skills.
It comes as a surprise to say but Water For Elephants is a great watch and it’s a pity that there aren’t more films like this out there at the moment. Water For Elephants has some fine acting and a great story… now who would have predicated that?
