In this adaptation of Sara Gruen's titular bestseller, veterinary student Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson) winds up with the Benzini Brother circus following the death of his parents in Depression-era 1931. After a bereaved and penniless Jankowski jumps aboard the train carrying the circus troupe, he is hired by sociopathic, sadistic ringmaster August (Christoph Waltz) to care for the animals, particularly those of star performer Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), who's also August's wife. So, when August buys a middle-aged elephant named Rosie, it falls to Jacob to train her for Marlena's act. The fact that neither Jacob nor Marlena has ever worked with a pachyderm makes their encounters with Rosie all the more interesting—and charming. Unfortunately, screenwriter Richard LaGravenese has so condensed Gruen's novel that pivotal scenes are simply glossed over by director Francis Lawrence, resulting in a film that fails to capture the source material's suspenseful character development and gritty circus milieu. Sulky, miscast Twilight vampire Pattinson achieves zero chemistry with far-too-ladylike Witherspoon, and while Waltz fares better, the best performance actually comes from 42-year-old Tai, as Rosie. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary with director Francis Lawrence and screenwriter Richard LaGravenese, “The Traveling Show: Page to Screen” with novelist Sara Gruen (10 min.), featurettes on stars Robert Pattinson (4 min.) and Reese Witherspoon (3 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the “Working Without a Net” visual effects featurette (23 min.), the production featurettes “Raising the Tent” (16 min.) and “Secrets of the Big Top” (13 min.), a bonus digital copy of the film, and the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a disappointing adaptation.] (S. Granger)
Water for Elephants
Fox, 121 min., PG-13, DVD: $29.98, Blu-ray: $39.99, Nov. 1 Volume 26, Issue 6
Water for Elephants
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