Water for Elephants (12A)

Water for Elephants (12A)

Director: Francis Lawrence

Cast: Robert Patterson, Reece Witherspoon, Cristoph Waltz

With the notable exception of Jurassic Park, films centring on pseudo-anthropomorphic creatures - be it dog, monkey or killer whale – have the unerring ability to become cookie-cutter, over-sentimental, bargain bin trash. Thankfully, with Water for Elephants, such clichéd pit-holes are avoided, minimising the elephant element, and focussing more on the human love triangle of the circus hand (Patterson) falling for the beautiful wife (Witherspoon) of the jealous, and slightly deranged ringmaster (Waltz).

Patterson is still very much Twilight’s Edward Cullen, simply transferring his brooding vampire intensity to a less supernatural prohibition America. There is plenty to look at, with lots of fine period detail, and enough menace from Waltz’s character – the finest thing in the film - to avoid becoming too saccharine. Unfortunately, the Titanic style book-ending feels too neat, destroying any opportunity for real tension, and creating a regrettably hollow pay-off.

Rated: 3/5