WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

Written by Richard LaGravenese

Directed by Francis Lawrence

Starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz

 Based on the popular and much loved novel by Sara Gruen, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, as adapted by Richard LaGravenese, the writer responsible for romantic weepers like P.S. I LOVE YOU and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, tells the tale of a young man (Robert Pattinson) who is lost to the world and found by the circus. The action under the big top is bustling with trapeze acts, wild animals and, much to my dismay, plenty of exaggerated, over the top performances that make this show a far cry from the greatest on Earth.

Francis Lawrence, the director of I AM LEGEND, works hard to dazzle the crowds but this is not an easy task when you have all the wrong acts on your roster. The unfortunate thing about Pattinson starring vehicles is that they draw far too much attention to how hollow a performer he is. It doesn’t help matters that his very talented co-stars, Academy Award winners, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz are entirely miscast as the husband and wife team behind the circus. The looks on their faces suggest they would rather be anywhere else and it wasn’t long before I was feeling the same way.