Directed by Francis Lawrence, Starring: Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, & Christoph Waltz. Water for Elephants (2011)
What’s It About?
IMDB says: “A veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.“
What We Thought:
Jess: I finally got a chance to check this movie out the other day and was surprised by how much I truly enjoyed it. I have a deep dark secret that could possibly ruin any credibility that I have as a movie blogger and lover and it involves a certain guilty pleasure that shall not be named. However, that guilty pleasure gave me some hope that if given better source material Robert Pattinson could actually be able to showcase some acting chops. While he definitely is by no means remarkable in Water for Elephants, he does show that he has something to offer on the screen. Reese Witherspoon is always enjoyable in my book, and Waltz is without a doubt a fantastic actor. His role is a bit more dynamic than I first thought it would be. He might be just a big jerk, but Waltz plays it in such a way that you feel that his character August is quite damaged and tormented, saving it from being a one-note act.
The greatest thing about this film is definitely the story, which is based on the novel by Sara Gruen. The plot had a gravitational pull that sucked you into this film and kept you on your toes waiting to see how things would turn out. It almost feels like a fairy tale as it unfolds and definitely has whimsical elements that fit well with the circus setting. The cinematography was quite lovely, especially when capturing the circus acts. They took on a magical feel that you would get as a child watching a circus. The scenes with Witherspoon are especially breathtaking, although I’m sure a body double helped with that.
The one thing that almost detracts from this film is the connection between Pattinson and Witherspoon. They did have a bit of chemistry and you can see why the two characters would be drawn to each other, but there was just something missing to make you completely believe they’d fall in love. I’m sure in the novel it is more fleshed out and explained.
Overall, it was just an enchanting film with a fantastic story, and that for me more than warrants the watch.
61-89% = Really enjoyable movie. It may not be perfect in all aspects but it was worth the watch.
